Date sent: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 20:24:22 -0500
From: judihahn@iac.net
Subject: Teens Encouraged by Adult Mentors

I picked up a pamphlet at one of my favorite restaurant's checkout stand. The title was "Teens Encouraged by Adult Mentors." Thinking it had something to do with STW, I picked it up.

What is mentoring? "Mentoring is a form of POSITIVE INTERVENTION." (Their caps) "Consistent interaction with a responsible, caring adult promotes the beginning to a solution for youth who are at risk of educational failure."

Think about that state. Mentoring assumes someone else than a parent. So the mentor is the responsible, caring adult (not the parent) who promotes the solution. Nowhere in this pamphlet are parents mentioned positively.

Why is mentoring needed? Because today's youth reflect the breakdown of the family. They witness parents "overwhelmed by stress, who don't have time, patience, know-ho to bond with their children." SO A MENTOR DOES????

Even though these youth (those who are AT RISK of educational failure) have parents, they feel alone with no support.

The Mission of TEAM is to provide a COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM of care to abused, neglected, dependent, and unruly children that provides for their safety, mental health and which enhances their opportunity to become successful.

This is a program of the Clermont County (OHIO) Family and Children First initiative. Remember the definition of a family according to FCF is "a group of people related by blood OR circumstance, who depend upon one another for sustenance, support, security, socialization, and stimulation."