Mission:

To positively impact the lives of individuals 10 and older in the Duncanville, Cedar Hill and Desoto Texas area by providing 

support and learning opportunities that promote character development and life-enhancing values through life skills mentoring.

Philosophy:

By providing individuals with consistent, caring mentors, they will learn life skills and develop core values. 

Mentors will learn how to use teachable moments to illustrate these values. 

Goals/Purpose:

SOTM Life Skills Mentoring program seeks to serve, support, esteem and empower individuals in the community

Mentors invest their time in listening, building trust, establishing a relationship, supporting and guiding the mentees.

Program Guidelines:

The same gender pairs will meet for two hours every other week (four hours per month) for 12 months. 

In addition to the bi-weekly meetings, mentors and mentees must attend a training session, a program kick-off, 

group events and supervisory meetings.

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Mentors and mentees must complete written applications and mentors must complete a background check.

Benefits to the:

 ·         Mentees: The program will help individuals to develop important life skills, explore careers, plan for the future,

	 improve school attitudes and performance and build self-confidence. 

 ·         Mentors: The satisfaction of giving back to their community. 

 ·         Community: The satisfaction of having healthy men and women contributing the well being of society. 

 

The SOTM Mentoring Program deals directly with the four kinds of balance desperately needed such as: intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

    

The intellectual step helps reinforce the value of individual by providing leadership training, helping them understand how self-concept affects their self-image.  Challenging individuals to make constructive behavioral changes and function more effectively in the workplace.  The emotional step helps individual to identify and express feelings, reclaim his or herself, set limits and learn that options are available.  The spiritual step helps individual to reconnect with their spirituality.  Helping them understand the power of prayer and meditation to provide inner strength to face daily challenges. The physical step encourages the development of healthy habits, self acceptance and the enjoyment of a more productive life.

 

Assisting individuals in developing a strong support system mentor and mentee are paired up and make a one-year commitment to one another.  The mentor provides support, counsel, reinforcement and serves as a positive role model.   Both partners gain the benefit of companionship, encouragement, and both are challenge to develop greater levels of integrity.  We offer one-on-one mentoring, group mentoring and e-mentoring to individuals 13 and older. Interested in Mentoring please complete the application and mail back to:  SOTM, Inc-Supporting Others Through Mentoring, 423 W. Wheatland Road Suite 101, Duncanville Texas 75116 or call 972-709-1180. or visit mentoring.org to complete an application:

 

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In order to be eligible to be matched with a mentee, volunteers must  satisfy the following criteria:

1. Complete and submit an application.

Provide copies of :                                                                                                        

a.      Driver’s license

b.      Proof of insurance

c.      Three personal references

d.      Two professional references

2.  Complete a criminal background clearance

3.  Attend an initial Mentor Training

4.  Attend a minimum of four sessions of Life Skills Training 

• Be at least 21 years of age

• Reside in the Dallas or Tarrant county area

• Be willing to adhere to all SOTM Life Skills Mentoring Program policies and procedures

• Agree to a one-year commitment to the program

• Commit to spending a minimum of four hours a month with the mentee

• Be willing to communicate with the mentee weekly

• Complete the screening procedure

• Agree to attend mentor trainings as required

• Be willing to communicate regularly with the program coordinator and submit monthly meeting and activity information

• Have access to an automobile or reliable transportation

• Have a current driver’s license, auto insurance, and good driving record

• Have a clean criminal history

• Have never been accused, arrested, charged, or convicted of child abuse or molestation

• Not be a convicted felon

• Not be a user of illicit drugs

• Not use alcohol or controlled substances in an excessive or inappropriate manner

• Not be currently in treatment for substance abuse.

• Not currently be under treatment for a mental disorder or have been hospitalized for a mental disorder in the past three years

• Not have falsified information during the course of the screening process

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• Be 13 years old and older

• Reside in the Dallas county with a focus on Duncanville, Cedar Hill, and DeSoto Texas area

• Demonstrate a desire to participate in the program and be willing to abide by all SOTM Life Skills Mentoring Program policies and procedures

• If under age, be able to obtain parental/guardian permission and ongoing support for participation in the program

• Agree to a one-year commitment to the program

• Commit to spending a minimum of four hours a month with the mentor

• Be willing to communicate with the mentor weekly

• Complete screening procedure

• Agree to attend mentee trainings as required

• Be willing to communicate regularly with the program coordinator and discuss monthly meeting and activity information

 

For youth of:

Mentoring Children of Prisoners: Caregiver’s Choice Child Enrollment Form-  Call 1-877-333-2464 or complete this application

 

• Basic requirement:

• One-year commitment

• two face-to-face meetings each month

• a minimum of four hours per month

• Participation in-group mentoring

• e-mentoring

 

Menteee Applicantion information

Mentee Application 10-17 year old

Parental Questionnaire

Contact and Information Release Form

Interest Survey Form

Mentee Application 18 year old  and older

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The tips provided below are to encourage you on your mentor journey with SOTM, Inc.  Your decision to become a mentor will help encourage an individual on their journey.  Your goal is to provide guidance in the four essential areas: Intellectual development, Emotional development, spiritual development, and physical development.

 

•  Help your partner move to new areas of experiences, and helping them to learn to choose their own path.

• Help the participant reach self-sufficiency in the four main areas.  This will always be the focus of your mentor relationship.

• Be a trusted friend, confidante, a committed listener, a role model, an advocate whose experiences, moral support and encouragement help another person, determine priorities,   and achieve their goals, over a period of time.

• Be a good listener and to help develop or reinforce basic self-esteem.

• Realize that honesty, commitment and confidentiality are mandatory for building a good mentor relationship.

• Help your partner develop strategies for better communication with others.

• Demonstrate by setting positive examples.

• Help your partner on how to respond to hardships and temporary setbacks.

  

 Your goal as a mentor is to help the participant to develop in all four areas:

1.         Intellectual development

2.         Emotional development

3.         Spiritual development

4.         Physical development

 

1.  Receiving satisfaction from helping others , and enjoying another’s success.

2.  Fulfilling your responsibilities of citizenship, and making new friends.

3.  Sharing special talents, while working as a tem. 

4.  Gaining great communication skills.  Enjoying SOTM transferable learning skills.

 

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 As you already know, knowledge is power.  You want to encourage your partner to stay as inform as possible.  You may decide to...

•  Take your partner out to lunch for some “friend talk”.

•  Encourage your partner to attend a seminar of one of your favorite motivational speaker.

•  Introduce your partner to one of your respected colleague.

•  Attend a networking session, or encourage them to attend one and you can talk about the experience.

•  Encourage mentee to attend a workshop on leadership.

•  Be able to continually acknowledge the worthiness and success of your partner.

•  Invite mentee to visit you at work.  This will give you a chance to show what you do.

•  If cash permit, encourage to visit the state capital, or you might suggest a book. 

•  If money is not an issue, suggest a great play.  With limited budget, a community theater will work.

•  Keep some of  your conversation with your partner intellectually challenging.

•  Pass on information on current events, statistics, financial issues, and great work of art.

•  Encourage your partner to develop and work through their set goals.

•  Tell your life story.  Let your partner know what you are doing to continue to develop yourself intellectually.

 

Do you remember how devastating life can be before you had developed those day-to-day coping skills? 

• This is your chance to develop your listening skills.  Allow partner time to vent.  Let her know it’s okay to vent.  Caution yourself from becoming a “dumping ground”.

• Be available for your partner’s emergency calls, if possible.  Set boundaries between you and your partner as to telephone contact, times, days, etc.

• Stay away from giving advice.  Use the communication tools you have learned in your training at all time.

• Do not be judgmental. 

• Assist your partner in learning problem solving techniques and how to open doors for themselves.

• Have a willingness to assist your partner in learning to control their behaviors and to accept and understand their current stage.

 

 One of your most important jobs is to try to encourage your partner to discover their spirituality.  You can encourage conversations by asking questions.

• Talk about your spirituality openly without imposing your views on your partner.

• Use caution when questions are asked of you about God that is hard to answer.  Give yourself permission to say I don’t know.

• Encourage your partner with daily meditation. 

• Point partner toward resources that will help them discover their spirituality.

• Encourage partner to attend religious services within their own faith and beliefs.

• Use your own life examples of how your faith has helped you in difficult situations.

• Encourage partner to get involve in a ministry in their local church.