Youth Mentoring That Builds Confidence and Connection

Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana’s Mentoring Children of Promise program connects children and youth ages 4 to 18 with caring adult volunteer mentors who provide encouragement, guidance, stability, and positive support.

The program serves children who have a parent or guardian who is incarcerated, youth with a military parent, and young people who may have experienced trauma, family disruption, loss, instability, or other challenging life circumstances. Through consistent, supportive relationships with trusted adult mentors, the program helps young people build confidence, strengthen resilience, develop positive relationships, and feel supported as they navigate challenges and work toward a positive future.

Mentoring Children with an Incarcerated Parent

Having a parent in prison can create significant changes in a child’s life. Children may experience the trauma of separation and loss along with economic, social, and family challenges related to a parent’s incarceration.

Mentoring Children of Promise matches these young people with caring adults who volunteer their time to provide acceptance, attention, encouragement, guidance, and hope.

Through consistent mentoring relationships, we help children and youth:

• Build self-esteem and confidence
• Develop positive and healthy relationships
• Strengthen communication and social skills
• Navigate challenges associated with parental incarceration or separation
• Maintain a greater sense of connection and stability
• Develop skills that support positive choices and future goals
• Connect with a caring and dependable adult role model

Become a Volunteer Mentor

As a volunteer mentor, you can provide a young person with consistent encouragement and a positive adult relationship. Mentors spend time with children, listen to them, encourage their interests, participate in positive activities, and help them develop confidence and new skills.

Your time and attention can help a child navigate the challenges associated with parental incarceration and build toward a more positive future.

Find a Mentor or Become a Mentor

If you are looking for a mentoring program for a child or are interested in becoming a volunteer youth mentor, Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana can help.

Contact us to learn more about Mentoring Children of Promise, youth eligibility, enrollment, and volunteer mentor opportunities.

For more information, call (504) 836-8701.

There are 33 children on our waiting list to be matched with a mentor.