Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions
For more information on becoming a volunteer mentor, please call Diane Franz at The United Way by email at dfranz@supportunitedway.org or at 617-624-8185.
Question: What is Haverhill Youth Mentor Network (HYMN)?
Answer: The Haverhill Youth Mentor Network (HYMN) is a program led by Team Haverhill in partnership with city service agencies, Haverhill’s schools and citizens with a common commitment to help Haverhill children achieve academic and life success through mentoring. Team Haverhill is an independent, volunteer action group dedicated to making Haverhill a better place to live, learn, work and play. It pursues this purpose by fostering civic dialogue, organizing hands-on projects, creating a more informed public, and advocating for positive change.
The HYMN partnership is building long-term civic capacity for one-to-one matching of volunteer mentors to youth. The first phase of HYMN is a school based mentoring program at Haverhill’s Tilton Public School. The program will match twenty-five fourth graders with one-to-one volunteer mentors beginning in the fall of 2010, with phased growth over the next several years.
Question: Who leads the HYMN program?
Answer: A Program Director will work closely with schools and City youth agencies to provide training and support to mentees and their mentors.
Question: How is the program funded?
Answer: The program will be funded by a combination of grants and donations from businesses and individuals through fundraising activities. Please see Donor FAQ's.
Question: How are children referred to the program?
Answer: The Teachers and Principal make recommendations based on clear guidelines such as report cards, MCAS scores and attendance. Students with various needs and skill levels will be considered for the program. The program is voluntary.
Question: Who can become a mentor?
Answer: We generally seek caring adult volunteers, such as employees at local and regional businesses and retired teachers.
Question: How do I become a mentor?
Answer: Candidate mentors will follow a thorough application and interview process, which includes CORI and SORI background checks conducted by the school. We urge adults who care about young people to fill out an application.
Question: How will I be matched with a child?
Answer: The interview and training process helps us to get to know mentor preferences as well as the situation best suited for them. It also helps mentors to get to know us and the program expectations. We take into account each mentor’s capabilities and the motivational needs of the mentees before matches are made.
Question: What is the minimum commitment for a mentor?
Answer: We are seeking at least a one year commitment from mentors, while a two year commitment would be ideal. Mentors will meet with students at least once a week during the school year. Meetings will be for at least one hour. Mentors will occasionally touch base with mentees during the summer. There will also be group events to bring mentees and mentors together.
Question: What training will be provided to mentors?
Answer: There will be two to four hours of formal training for mentors before they start meeting with their mentees. Quarterly group meetings for all mentors will be held for support and training. Mentors will also be given tips and information on the academic skills that students are working on in their grade level as well as sample activities that mentors can do with them to promote these skills.
Question: How will the HYMN program be evaluated?
Answer: The students’ collective improvement in academics and in social skills will be the primary bases of evaluation. The impact of the presence of a caring adult in supporting the overall development of mentees above and beyond that of teachers will be assessed.
Question: How do I get more information on becoming a volunteer mentor?
Answer:
For more information on becoming a volunteer mentor, please call Diane Franz at The United Way by email at dfranz@supportunitedway.org or at 617-624-8185.Donor Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What is Haverhill Youth Mentor Network (HYMN)?
Answer: The Haverhill Youth Mentor Network (HYMN) is a program led by Team Haverhill in partnership with city service agencies, Haverhill’s schools and citizens with a common commitment to help Haverhill children achieve academic and life success through mentoring. Team Haverhill is an independent, volunteer action group dedicated to making Haverhill a better place to live, learn, work and play. It pursues this purpose by fostering civic dialogue, organizing hands-on projects, creating a more informed public, and advocating for positive change.
The HYMN partnership is building long-term civic capacity for one-to-one matching of volunteer mentors to youth. The first phase of HYMN is a school based mentoring program at Haverhill’s Tilton Public School. The program will match twenty-five fourth graders with one-to-one volunteer mentors beginning in the fall of 2010, with phased growth over the next several years.
Question: How can I support the work that the Haverhill Youth Mentor Network is doing?
Answer: There are a couple ways you can support our work:
· Make a tax-deductible donation to HYMN online
· Or send a check or credit card information to:
Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce
Community Arts and Education Foundation
c/o HYMN
80 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor
Haverhill, MA 01830
Question: Who provides Financial Support for the Haverhill Youth Mentor Network?
Answer: The HYMN receives funding from private donors, grants, and charitable foundations. We are seeking to expand our financial support from private businesses and corporations. Our goal is to acquire community-based and private business donations to support the HYMN Program Director salary and to provide Tilton School with the mentor program.
Question: Is HYMN a For-Profit Company?
Answer: No. We will use the funding we receive from various sources to support the HYMN program director’s salary for the 2010-2011 school year. Any additional funding will be used to create program materials and communication supports for parents, mentors, and mentees.
Question: What does the Haverhill Youth Mentor Network Do with the Funding it Receives?
Answer: The support the Haverhill Youth Mentor Network from various sources goes towards:
· Program Director salary for 2010-2011 school year
· Mentor-mentee materials: books, journals, logs, and partnership program materials
· Community-based initiatives to promote the youth mentor program
· Communication resources for parents, students, and mentors
.
.
.
.
.
.
