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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW A Q & A with Schneider interim director Scott Malbaurn ... Four & Twenty Blackbirds Bakery takes flight to new roost ... Inner Peace: You can change your self by reworking your ego ... A Q & A with Schneider interim director Scott Malbaurn ... Four & Twenty Blackbirds Bakery takes flight to new roost ... Inner Peace: You can change your self by reworking your ego ... ASHLAND RUNS ON VOLUNTEERS Rose Circle volunteers help mentor children Comment By Mary I. Coombs DailyTidings.com By Mary I. Coombs Posted Jan. 27, 2015 at 4:38 PM By Mary I. Coombs Posted Jan. 27, 2015 at 4:38 PM » RELATED CONTENT • FOTAS volunteers are dogs' (and cats') best friends • 'HUB' serves shoppers — and a good cause • Volunteers at winter shelters help homeless • Volunteers enhance services of Ashland Libary » Social News It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Many children in Ashland and elsewhere in Jackson County can use another adult in their lives, and the Rose Circle Mentoring Network helps provide those adults. Through the Circle, caring adults are matched as mentors with children (primarily middle school through high school age), both in one-to-one relationships and in “mentoring circles” of two or three adults with approximately four to 12 children. A key aspect of the Circle’s work is training potential mentors: they must go through a full weekend of mentor training (offered twice yearly; unfortunately the next training will be the weekend of Jan. 31, with the following one in September) where they learn and practice conflict resolution and listening skills. There is a system of continuous organizational support. And the mentors are invited to a monthly mentors’ meeting at the Rose Circle office where they can share experiences, both problems they have faced and solutions or programs that worked, as well as hearing guests who are experts in topics such as child abuse and the impact of domestic violence on children. Mentors aren't expected to "go it alone" — they are supported by the professional staff and each other. Children can seek mentors, or the impetus may come from counselors, parents or social workers. Circles are usually made up of children from a particular school or organization and, with one exception, the circles are all girls or all boys. (Rose Circle began as a pure volunteer effort of several local women to support teenage girls; it has since obtained a grant to expand and offer mentoring to boys as well.) More recently they have added a mixed-gender circle for 15- to 23-year-olds, called the Youth Vision Council. One of the keys to good mentoring relationships is matching mentor-mentee. There is now a small professional staff, including Lucius Wheeler, who does the matching, based on what he has learned about you and the potential mentee. What are the criteria? Interests, hobbies and life experiences all matter. So do personal styles and comfort levels of possible mentors with the issues and problems of potential mentees. They try to find the best mentors for children of diverse backgrounds: socio-economic, ethnic or sexual orientation. The pattern is ordinarily to match girls with female mentors and boys with male mentors. I spoke to one man who is mentoring an 11-year-old boy. He stressed the importance of developing a rapport and trust so the boy will open up about his concerns and problems. The mentor is not a parent, but he can sometimes serve as an alternative to a problematic peer group in helping a child find a constructive way to deal with them. The mentors are relatively free in choosing the contents of the mentoring relationship (in the circles, the mentors will coordinate in designing programs), though the organization will provide support. There are some limits, for the protection of both mentor and mentee: no overnight activities; no travel outside the Rogue Valley; mentors are not to become financial resources for mentees or their families. Mentoring can be a very rewarding experience for the mentor as well as the mentees: indeed, one former mentee is now a volunteer mentor, about as good an example as one could find of “paying it forward.” Circles typically meet at the school or organization from which the mentees come for about an hour each week. One-on-one mentors are expected to meet with their mentees at least four hours a month and at least once every other week. The mentor I spoke with spends considerably more time than that and suggested that one often needs more than an hour or two with a child before he will open up in a way that allows in-depth conversation. Mentors should commit to participating in the program for a year (or a school year for the circles). What could you expect if you applied to be a Rose Circle mentor? First, because you will be working with children, there must be a reference check and a criminal background check. You will also be asked to fill out an application and meet for an interview. Then, after you go through the training, they will look for the right match. They recognize that there is a certain element of chemistry: the first meeting between mentor and mentee is tentative. Only after both parties agree is the mentoring relationship formalized. It is a commitment, but with the potential to make a real difference in the life of a child. If you want to know more, you can go to www.therosecircle.org or call 541-646-1252. Mary I. Coombs’ column on local nonprofit organizations appears every three weeks. Email questions and suggestions to [email protected].   By Mary I. Coombs DailyTidings.com By Mary I. Coombs Posted Jan. 27, 2015 at 4:38 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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