Preparing For Adulthood By Example
The United States Department of Justice reported in 1993 that eighty percent of the juveniles in state reform institutions and seventy-nine percent of adolescents, who have been convicted of felonies in America, grew up in single parent homes without strong and positive role models. Furthermore, young boys and girls, ages 14-21, released from correctional facilities face many barriers, such as the lack of family support, basic skills deficits, the lack of social and life skills, the lack of technical or job skills, poor work histories, the lack of child care and transportation, but; most importantly, the absence of a strong role model or mentor to guide and direct released youth from recidivism.
There is a need for programs that will allow youth who transition from restricted environments to receive one-on-one mentoring to increase their chances of successful adulthood at the most critical times in their development with the goal of achieving educational, training and holistic values of life to strengthen themselves as they become contributing community citizens.
The Wings of Faith, Inc. (WOF) "Mentors of Faith" Program's (housed at 5555 Conner Avenue. Detroit. Michigan in The Samaritan Center) mission is to provide early transforming intervention in youth at-risk, so that family preservation and community belonging gives ownership to the lives of youth whose future awaits them as productive and proactive citizens. The WOF organization is also designed to provide positive role models so that youth can properly prepare for adulthood by example.
The Mentors of Faith Programs holistic approach accomplishes goals of:
- Providing increased stability and consistency in the life of a child
- Increasing motivation, insight and life skills to move forward
- Dealing with youth disruptive/challenging behavior into activities
that increase self
esteem and goal possibilities - Encouraging full parent participation in developing a well rounded
and stable
family environment
Mentors of Faith holistic approaches to youth mentoring through faith-based organizations will provide key components to:
- Encourage youth to be independent in decision making
- Allow youth to take responsibility and deal with the consequences of their actions
- Aide youth in prioritizing and setting participant's personal goals
(GED, training,
apprenticeship, etc.) - Facilitate family-based faith walks by encouraging family members of youth participants to be more active in their family-preservation by facilitating one-on-one or family support group sessions prior to and after release from state housing.
- Provide a Hope-Line, available 24 hours, to reach a mentor to guide
participants
through critical problem solving moments, where participants may need
immediate advice - Support healthy social and personal development and provide youth with a healthy outlet for creative expression
- Individual Mentoring Service Strategy on each participant and provide
monthly
reports of each participant's progress.
The outcomes of the Program are to:
- Encourage wider ranges of behavioral options
- Build confidence, self-esteem, and self control
- Decrease the risk of recidivism
- Increase social awareness and improve family/community relationships
The Wings of Faith, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 collaboration was formed in 1999, now one of the country's largest faith-based partnerships housed at the state funded and largest one-stop career center in the City of Detroit - The Samaritan Center.
Samaritan Complex
5575 Conner Ave. - 2nd Floor
Detroit, MI 48213
313.579.6000
FAX: 313.579.6003
