FY21

Caroline Mentoring Project received a proclamation in celebration of January National Mentoring Month from Caroline County Commissioners.  Partnered and met with several community organizations to promote the work of our program including the Non-Profit Network Group, Caroline County Local Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, Federalsburg Lions club and more.  In January 2021 we were the only mentoring program on the eastern shore to be part of the Maryland delegation to attend Capitol Hill Day, where we had the opportunity to dialogue with various state representatives such as Senator Van Hollen, Senator Cardin and the Honorable Andy Harris with whom YMCA Caroline Mentoring Project had the opportunity to lead the meeting, emphasizing the importance of supporting various laws relevant to mentoring services in the state of Maryland and at the national level.  Collaborated with Tenchi Kitchen, Town of Denton, Caroline County Commissioners, Wraparound Maryland, Federalsburg Lions Club and Caroline County Public Schools to support our mentor and mentees throughout the year.  Began the process to get the National Disability Mentoring Coalition Certification, this certification will help the program to provide mentoring services to disable youth in Caroline County, also, will help to provide an environment of inclusion.  Launched a new video series on social media called My Mentoring Story where mentors, parents, and community partners share their experiences with the program.  We started the process to be part of the National Quality Mentoring System. The Maryland MENTOR Quality Program Partner Initiative (QPP) is Maryland MENTOR’s newest initiative to recognize those programs who have demonstrated a consistent drive to uplift their quality. This select group of programs who have undergone quality assessment, developed an action plan for improvement and are consistently leaders in our field of mentoring throughout Maryland. Quality Partners are mentoring programs that have demonstrated their commitment to quality CAROLINE COUNTY FAMILY YMCA A Branch of the YMCA of the Chesapeake 46 Denton Plaza, Denton MD 21629 410 479 3060 www.ymcachesapeake.org program practices by completing the National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS) assessment and agreeing to participate in a number of additional regular quality practices and check-ins.  Celebrated the success of 3 of our mentee’s graduating from high school, one graduating with honors and another being recognized as Most Improved in Science and Most Outstanding for language arts.  Received 3 nominations for this year’s Maryland United 4 Youth Conference that include; Mentor Program of the Year, Mentor of the Year and Mentee of the year  We began the conversation with Chesapeake College to be part of their Upward Bound Program next school year 2021-2022. Upward Bound is a federally funded program that will be fully administered through Chesapeake College and implemented at the school sites and the college campus while working in close collaboration with a number of key community partners. The program's mission is to provide 60 eligible students at each school the skills and motivation to enroll in and successfully complete postsecondary education.

FY23

This program was converted to a group mentoring program.  The program has proven to be more successful as a group mentoring.  Some mentors have continued to see their mentee on a 1-1.

FY21

New Initiatives/Services for 2021/2022 Below are a list of initiatives and services Caroline Mentoring Project is hoping to add to our program in the upcoming school year. Mayor for Mentoring The campaign is an effort to celebrate the efforts of mayors to expand the quality and quantity of mentoring opportunities for young people in their communities. Goals of this program include; to raise awareness about the multiplying benefits of quality mentoring for young people and their communities and to encourage mayors to demonstrate their support for mentoring and to collaborate with other mayors and elected leaders to expand access to quality youth mentoring opportunities. YMCA Caroline Mentoring Project Junior Mentor YMCA Caroline Mentoring Project Junior Mentor gives the opportunity to young people between the ages of 18-20 years old to participate in our program as Junior Mentors. These young adults will have some restrictions and/or tasks different from the Adult Mentors within the program. Be The Change-Community Project With the Be the Change-Community Project initiative, mentors and mentees will be encouraged at least once a year to work together for the community. Mentors and Mentees must create a community project which they must choose, plan and execute together.

FY23

Coverting this program to a group mentoring has worked better for the mentors as well as the mentees.  There is more participation and peer learning experiences.

FY21

Demographic Information for the Year:

a. Total Number Served This year: 20

b. Gender i. M: 7 F: 13

c. Ages i. 0-4: 0 ii. 5-9: 2 iii. 10-12: 0 iv. 13-15: 10 v. 16-18: 8 vi. 19+: 0

d. Race i. African American: 8 ii. American Indian: 0 iii. Asian: 0 iv. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0 v. Hispanic: 2 vi. White: 10 vii. Multiracial: 0

FY21

Below is a story from our 3rd Quarter and one our favorite case vignette from the year. It is a great reflection of the connection between a pair. My name is Mina Pincus, and I joined Caroline Mentoring Project (CMP) in 2015. This week marks the fifth year that I have been a mentor to Abby. Abby is a high school freshman this year, and I am proud to say that we weathered the storms of middle school together. Since joining CMP, Abby has experienced some difficult family events as well as typical middle school issues, and I was thrilled that she chose to confide in me when she was feeling stressed and discouraged. It was also a comfort to know that her dad and step-mom trusted me enough to encourage Abby to open up to me. We have plenty of good times, too. I truly enjoy spending time with Abby and her friend, Ashlee, and they love when we go to the mall and see movies together. They say that I am a lot of fun, but I don’t think they realize how much they have made it easier for me as my own nest empties. I plan to continue to mentor Abby as she grows to adulthood. Being a mentor has given me a feeling a purpose and is also a way to give back to the community, even if just by helping one young person. CAROLINE COUNTY FAMILY YMCA A Branch of the YMCA of the Chesapeake 46 Denton Plaza, Denton MD 21629 410 479 3060 www.ymcachesapeake.org Informal mentors in my own life, a high school teacher and my best friend’s mom, helped me through some very difficult times in my youth. I always say that I don’t know where I would be if not for their guidance and care. They argue that it was my own resilience that made the difference, but I wouldn’t have developed that resilience without their support and encouragement. It is my hope that I can provide that same support and encouragement for Abby. -Mina Pincus (Mentor since 2015)

The YMCA Program is a one to one mentoring program serving diverse populations across Caroline County.  The Program is supported with trainings and group functions through the YMCA of the Chesapeake using locally developed curriculums as well as supports through Maryland Mentor, the Statewide affiliate of MENTOR.  The Program will serve school age youth requiring mentors to meet with their mentee 4 hrs per week. 

School age youth in schools across Caroline County who may be at risk high school drop-out and or truancy.

FY21

Despite a very challenging year due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are very pleased with the accomplishments of our mentoring program over the past year. Our program was able to successfully connect resources between Caroline County Public Schools, our mentors, and participant families, while working together to support our mentees during a tumultuous school year full of challenges for our youth. As many youth were struggling with virtual learning we saw academic growth amongst our mentees due to support from our program and their mentors. We are proud to say our mentors put in 447 mentoring hours over the past year. Though our program changed from previous years due to COVID restrictions, our pairs never stopped communicating and supporting each other. Over the past year our pairs meet over zoom calls, attended ice cream socials, attended a group trip to Washington D.C and much more. We ended our year with what we feel is one of our biggest accomplishments, seeing three of our mentees graduate from high school. We are looking forward to seeing this program continue to grow and reach more youth.