Empowering, equipping, and encouraging young people to make better choices through the power of one-to-one or group mentoring friendships.
What We Do
Caldwell Friends falls in a Community-Based mentoring program. Mentors and Mentees in this program participate in one-to-one outings and activities after school.
They enjoy doing things like: playing basketball, watching a game, listening to music on your smartphone, baking, fishing, attending festivals or catching a movie.
Some mentors and Mentees meet on the weekends. Others get together with their Mentees in the evenings. Each match is unique, lasting at least 6 months to one year, and they develop a schedule that works for them.
The life circumstances our children and youth face are poverty, single-parent homes, grandparents raising grandchildren, full time working parents, unhealthy environment situations, mental illness, addictions, bullying, gangs, and failing academically. Caldwell Friends mentors strive to be friends with children who can easily fall between the cracks.
This past year hours of one to one mentoring relationships have been spent with young people who need a mentor.
Caldwell Friends has been serving Caldwell County communities since 1983.
Young people who successfully complete our program and gain positive behavior changes and increased interest in school.
Caldwell Friends is mentoring and more. Providing a variety of programs, Mentors and Mentees experience positive mentoring relationships. Our programs create learning opportunities for young people by strengthening relationships and equipping Mentees to begin to make healthier decisions.
YES stands for Youth Educational Support. It’s a monthly support program for both Mentors and Mentees. YES is a hub for young people to find positive peer and adult interactions through fun and educational activities.
Biannually, Mentors pick a topic of choice to explore and further their Mentor skills.
Caldwell Friends invites a Prevention Specialist to interactively teach Mentees and their siblings about the risks of substance abuse and ways to prevent it.
MENTAL HEALTH EMPHASIS
Following the Covid-19 Pandemic, Caldwell Friends has placed an added emphasis on strenghtening our support system for youth and mentors. This is our proactive approach in hoping to curb staggering mental health rates throughout the community.
Annually we have our back to school bash where the youth and their mentors go to Kool Park Pull. At this event, backpacks filled with supplies are given to the youth.
Christmas time is exciting especially when you get to party with Santa and Caldwell Friends. Additionally, Caldwell Friends provides children and their siblings gifts for Christmas.
Susan and Liz believe in the power of mentoring and work hard to build positive influential mentoring relationships.Susan and Liz believe in the power of mentoring and work hard to build positive influential mentoring relationships.
There are kids ages 6-18 waiting for mentors. The mentors in our program have a fun and influential experience mentoring. So please take a moment and consider serving as a mentor to make a difference in a child’s life.
The Requirements?
A mentor is to be:
Be at least 18 years of age
Have means of transportation and a valid drivers license
Complete an application, which includes references and a criminal background check
Spend at least 2 to 3 hours a week or 8 to 12 hours a month with a child
Mentoring is easy and fun. Your mentoring journey can begin with a click below!
Whether is be hosting an event, helping at a festival, playing games with our Caldwell Friends, or being a Board Member, there is a spot for you and your talents!
Caldwell Friends would not be possible without the support the support from the community. All donations are apprecaited and used directly for Caldwell Friends.
