Whether you are familiar with Kids Hope USA or have never heard of us, partnering with us is simple and straightforward. There are some valuable things to know about becoming a partner with the organization!
Kids Hope USA pairs the local church with their local elementary school to create one-on-one mentoring relationships.
How does this work? How can one get involved? From the initial invitation to the beginning of the mentoring journey, this blog covers each step of becoming part of this important mission.
1. INVITATION
To partner with us, you must first accept the invitation! Kids Hope USA believes that the church is uniquely called to care for the children in its community. One tangible way to do this is for the church to become a Kids Hope USA partner. During this first step, the church will have conversations with our Partnership Growth Team to answer any questions and provide helpful information regarding partnership. There is no better time than the present to accept this invitation!
2. AFFILIATION
To set the program, church, and school up for success, the pastor/church signs an affiliate agreement. This agreement goes over all responsibilities for Kids Hope USA and the church. Kids Hope USA walks alongside the church throughout each step, however, it is still necessary to go over all responsibilities and expectations prior to launching the mentor program.
During this time, the church appoints a program director from their congregation. This individual is someone who is passionate about the mission of the organization, has time in their schedule to lead, is excited to be in the school, and can communicate regularly with volunteers. Once this program director is selected, the church is ready for training and launch.
3. Screening, Training and Launch
During the training and launch process, volunteer mentors are recruited from the church and complete the online training and background checks to qualify for mentoring. There is a 5-step screening process as well as a 3-step training to ensure safety and preparedness for the mentoring journey. During the training and launch process, Kids Hope USA assists the church to ensure that all steps are completed, and the church feels confident in their next steps to begin mentoring.
4. Mentoring Begins
Once mentors have completed screening, training, and passed the background checks, they begin their mentoring relationships. Mentors are paired with one student and meet weekly to foster an impactful mentoring relationship. During this time, the pair may play games, read books, complete schoolwork, do arts and crafts, etc. The mentor and student determine how they would like to spend their time together.
Throughout the year, the program director consistently recruits new mentors to grow the program. As students continue to be referred by the school, more mentors are needed, and the director helps reach out to individuals within the church so that more students can be reached!
5. Ongoing Support
Once the church has successfully connected and supported mentoring relationships for a full school year, we congratulate them as they have successfully launched their Kids Hope USA program! Moving forward, the church will be supported by a Program Support Specialist who is there to answer questions, offer ideas, and provide encouragement. This support specialist serves as a personal contact to assist the pastor and program director throughout the mentoring program journey. All program directors, mentors, and prayer partners will have access to the KHUSA portal, an additional resource center full of printable activities, video lessons, and mentor trainings. There are also educational videos from professionals at Winning at Home counseling center.
Connect with Us
Launching a mentoring program requires five key steps, however, the Kids Hope USA team keeps the process moving smoothly. If you are interested in a mentoring program or would like more information on the next steps, connect with us.
Transformation in your community starts with you and your church!