The Mentors Plus program provides a young person with the opportunity to experience a successful and positive, one-to-one relationship with a caring adult. Local adult volunteers agree to commit two hours each week for one year to a child in the Ferndale School District. The goals of this match include developing a trusting relationship improving the child's decision-making skills, enhancing self-esteem, encouraging appropriate social skills and providing new experiences. Above all, we want our mentors to have fun with their matches!

The Ferndale Youth Assistance Mentors program has been existence since 1974 and continues to grow each year. Children are referred by school personnel, the Youth Assistance caseworker at by parental request. Our adult volunteers are recruited through media advertisements, local church and civic operations and by word of mouth. Volunteers complete an application process through the county, which includes a background and police clearance, Protective Services clearance, reference checks and an orientation/training conducted by Oakland County Youth Assistance staff. Once mentors are approved at the county level, our Mentors Plus committee members conduct extensive interviews in the volunteer's home.

The committee has been working very hard to recruit new mentors because there is a GREAT need for positive role models for children in our community. Our committee members match volunteers with appropriate children, and the committee monitors each match throughout its duration. Volunteers make monthly contact with both the volunteer and the mentee's family to ensure the success and longevity of the mentoring relationship. In addition to local activities, Oakland County Youth Assistance occasionally gifts tickets to entertainment, sport and cultural events which are passed on to our matches. County-wide activities include picnics, community service projects and sports outings, which give mentors and mentees the opportunity to meet other matches throughout Oakland County. Since we now have eight matches in our local community, the committee has begun planning activities for our Ferndale volunteers and their matches. We are hoping that we can develop ongoing activities for our mentors and their mentees, so they can begin to form a partnership and positive relationships with one another.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor please contact our office at (248) 586-8700, so we can set up an orientation date. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Donna Pearlman at Dpearl1234@aol.com