Volunteering with at-risk youth?

Question

Hi there...I'm wanting to work with tutoring at-risk youth or organizations that reach juveniles in the court system or foster care. My job is in a similiar field, but looking to do something in addition to. Looking for organizations that support these kids and one that doesn't require endless amounts of training. Thanks!

Answer 1

One of the organizations that comes to mind is CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates. http://www.nationalcasa.org

There are several volunteer opportunities within CASA, but if you are interested in a more short-term type of opportunity with a broader scope, I would suggest working through your local volunteer center.

http://www.handsonnetwork.org/our-network/
http://pointsoflight.org/centers/find_center.cfm

Your volunteer center can help match you with specific organizations or projects that match your interests. For example, through my local volunteer center, I lead a team project at our local children's shelter and work with the kids on various night doing arts & crafts, playing board cames, and doing other fun stuff. The volunteer center has also given me the opportunity to work at library projects tutoring at-risk youth as well.

I also volunteer as a Big Brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

http://www.bbbs.org

Good Luck!

Answer 2

You can request to mentor a foster child via Big Brothers and Big Sisters or you can become a virtual mentor through the Orphan Foundation of America and mentor a college age foster care alum. You can provide support to a foster youth board in your area which might include transportation, refreshments for meetings, public speaking or writing help and other things. You can become a Court Appointed Special Advocate or CASA and help make sure foster kids' rights are respected in court. You can contact your state's ETV coordinator and ask about making care packages for foster youth in college in your area. (visit statevoucher.org to see who the coordinator for your state is) You can donate money to The Orphan Foundation of America (orphan.org), The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (ccainstitute.org), Elevate (www.elevate2inspire.com) or a number of other worthy causes that help foster youth. You can contact your local human services agencies about collecting toys, clothes and blankets for foster parents in your area (especially those who are taking children and babies coming from drug contaminated homes, as all of their belongings must be destroyed and those kids then have nothing). You can provide foster or respite care. If none of these appeal to you, you could contact a local non-profit that helps foster youth and ask how you can volunteer with them.

Answer 3

I currently work with at risk children ages 5 to 16 that have been removed from their homes by CPS for abuse and neglect. I have been ther for 5 years and love everyday of it. You can usually volunteer with no training needed and be a mentor for a child. They love the attention and it makes you feel great as well.

Answer 4

Big Brother

Answer 5

a mentor....