Mentors are members of the community who become volunteer case managers and advocate for a family that is working toward the goal of self-sufficiency within a five-year contract period. The Mentor's responsibilities include:
Working one-on-one with one family for a minimum of one year.
Interviewing the family in the family's home to determine employment and training needs as well as transportation, childcare and personal and family health care needs.
Developing an action plan with the family based on the assessment, to reach the family's short and long-term goals.
Having the family sign a five-year contract with FSS agreeing to achieve the goals on the plan and to be free of all entitlement by the end of the contract period.
Advocating for the family with employers, social service organizations, FSS and the community at large to ensure that the family's basic needs are being met so they can achieve educational and employment goals.
Completing billing request forms for clothing, mental health counseling, employment counseling, resume writing, and other services as needed.
Meeting face to face with their families at least once a month; telephoning their families at least biweekly during the first year.
Submitting semi-annual reports to FSS showing the family's progress toward goal achievement.
Receiving training in three parts:
Initial training (two hours): learn about the FSS Program, participant expectations, the role of the mentor and program forms.
Second training (one hour): review the assessment completed on participant, discuss community resources and learn how to help the family set obtainable goals.
Quarterly mentor/training sessions to update the resource lists, share concerns about families and discuss possible strategies.
Volunteer mentors know that they make the difference in whether a family succeeds in the program. Their families know that they can count on their mentor's support and assistance.
Please call Raquel Mitchell at (301) 929-5660 to become a volunteer mentor.