Mentoring Connections Mentor

Mentoring Connections envisions a community in which every youth experiences a nurturing one-to-one relationship, which in turn allows each of them to develop their full potential to become responsible members of the community. Mentoring Connections matches youth impacted by parental incarceration with a caring, adult mentor. Mentor matches spend time with each other each week and develop a connection that can stick with both the youth and the volunteer for a lifetime.

Mentors are matched with one youth (between the ages of 4-17) and commit to meeting once a week for a year. Mentors must be at least 21 years old, have a vehicle, and pass a background and reference check.

Qualified applicants will have:

• Sincere desire to be personally involved with another person to help them achieve personal and educational goals
• Ability to communicate with youth and teenagers openly and non-judgmentally
• Strong listening skills
• Ability to establish a relationship based on equal responsibility and respect
• Interest in needs and concerns of persons with internal and external barriers to life skills
• Practical problem solving skills and ability to suggest options and alternatives
• Sensitivity to persons of diverse educational, economic, cultural or racial backgrounds

Drive to Succeed Mentor

The Drive to Succeed program is a partnership with Operation Fresh Start.  This program provides participants with the support needed as they complete high school and earn their driver license.  Mentors will be a positive influence and provide vital support to individuals who have not completed high school, are 16-21 years old, do not currently have a driver license and are involved in the criminal justice system.

Mentors are matched with one individual (between the ages of 16-24). Mentors must be at least 18 years old, have a vehicle, and pass a background and reference check.

Qualified applicants will have:

• Sincere desire to be personally involved with another person to help them achieve personal and educational goals
• Ability to communicate with young people openly and non-judgmentally
• Strong listening skills
• Ability to establish a relationship based on equal responsibility and respect
• Interest in needs and concerns of persons with internal and external barriers to life skills
• Practical problem solving skills and ability to suggest options and alternatives
• Sensitivity to persons of diverse educational, economic, cultural or racial backgrounds

Family and Reading Connections Trip Volunteers

***THE FOLLOWING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE ON HOLD INDEFINITELY DUE TO COVID-19***

Family Connections provides opportunities to maintain and strengthen relationships within families affected by incarceration. This program keeps critical parent-child connections strong by organizing regular monthly visits between imprisoned mothers and their children. Family Connections goes to Taycheedah Correctional Institution the second Saturday of each month.

Reading Connections offers parents whose children reside too far away for regular visits, an opportunity to bond with their child and encourage their reading. Each month, volunteers go to Taycheedah Correctional Institution and Waupan Correctional Institution to collaborate with parents on this initiative. Parents are video recorded reading books to their children and the book, the recording, and a letter are mailed to the children and families.

Family and Reading Connections Trip Coordinator

Coordinate monthly trips to either Taycheedah or Waupun. This volunteer communicates directly with our point of contact at the prison(s), our volunteer teams, and reports directly to JustDane’s Volunteer & Community Engagement Coordinator.

The Family & Reading Connections Trip Coordinator must have access to email and consistently respond to emails within 1-2 business days.

This volunteer is not required to go on every trip.

Taycheedah trips are the 2nd Saturday of each month, 7am-2pm (transportation provided from Madison), and Waupun trips are the 3rd Wednesday of each month 11:45am-5pm (carpooled).

Volunteer Lunch Provider for Taycheedah Trips

Duties:

• Volunteers who sign up to be lunch providers coordinate with the Family & Reading Connections Trip Coordinator to provide food items for their designated trip date.
• Volunteers who sign up to be Lunch Providers do not necessarily go on the trips. Only volunteers who have gone through the Department of Corrections approval process will be able to go on the trips.
• Number of lunches needed will be communicated to the volunteer 5-7 days before the trip date. Numbers range from 5-15 lunches on average.
• Volunteers purchase food items on their own and make the lunches (Average cost ranges from $20-$40)
• Volunteers will track and report the amount of time spent purchasing items and coordinating for the trip, as well as report amount of money spent (to be considered as in-kind donations)
• Cooler is provided by JustDane
• Food items include: Gogurt, Breakfast bars (Nutrigrain, etc.), Juice boxes, Small water bottles, Sandwiches (turkey and cheese on wheat or white), Chips, Fruit or veggie item, Fruit snacks, Dessert item (cookie, brownie, etc.)

Volunteers Have/Are Able To:

• Purchase food items for the trip you sign up for
• Coordinate getting cooler from JustDane
• Deliver cooler of food to pick up site (East Madison) by 7am on trip date(s) you sign up for
• Communicate needs with Family & Reading Connections Trip Coordinator