FAQs about KIDS HOPE AUS.

FAQs about KIDS HOPE AUS.

Can a person mentor more than one child?

No. Mentors are often asked how many other kids they see at the school but what makes such a profound impact on the children is that one person comes faithfully to see only them.

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Must our pastor be directly involved?

Yes. We ask that the pastor, preferably the senior pastor, be a Kids Hope Aus. mentor or prayer partner. Their direct involvement alerts people at the church/school that the church has made a firm commitment to love the children in their community. In some cases, the pastor/mentor has become an unofficial chaplain at the school.

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Do the mentors all come to the school at the same time?

No. When teachers and the coordinator match children with mentors, they are assigned different times/days that meet the needs of the teacher and mentor. It is not uncommon for a church to have a mentor in the school each day.

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Why would a principal want a Kids Hope Aus. program in their school?
One principal shares these reasons:
- Kids Hope Aus. is offered by people in the local community.
- It is a managed system. The church coordinator, not the principal or teachers, oversees the volunteers.
- It's proven. It works.
- Principals have noted the improvement in reading levels, attitude and behaviour of the mentored children.
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What does 'children needing additional support' mean?

These children have special social, academic or emotional needs for a range of reasons. Some children simply need one-to-one support so they can discover their potential. For some, abuse, neglect, divorce, poverty or other problems may contribute to a child's needs. We ask teachers to refer children who could benefit from a relationship with a caring adult who will befriend the child and help him/her with academic skill development. A child needing additional support may be your neighbour, your nephew or your daughter.

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Who identifies the mentored children?
The mentored children are identified by their teachers. Teachers share the following information about their students:
- Positive attributes which help to build a mentoring relationship
- A specific need or objective
- Materials the mentor will use with the child
- Periodic progress reports
The teacher is indispensable to Kids Hope Aus. It is a privilege to help them reach their objectives by mentoring one of their students.
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Where do the mentor and child meet?

The mentor and child meet one-to-one in an observable place identified by the teacher or principal. The mentor does not work with the child in the classroom. The fact that most schools have space shortage has not been a problem. The presence of a caring adult seems far more important to a child than the space they occupy.

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How are mentors screened?

Mentors must undergo a national police check, fill out a comprehensive application booklet, attend an interview and provide two referees. They must also have the approval of the minister at the church.

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How are the mentors trained?

Kids Hope Aus. provides comprehensive, compulsory training for all coordinators and mentors. Training includes child protection policies and guidelines, understanding children’s needs, confidentiality and ages/stages in children’s development.

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How much extra work is involved for the classroom teacher?

Teachers provide resource materials for the academic section of the hour. This may be the same material that the rest of the grade is working on or the teacher may provide some general guidelines about literacy/numeracy activities etc.

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What happens at the end of the mentoring relationship?

Coordinators are trained in closure techniques when the mentoring relationship is scheduled to end.

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What contact does the mentor have with the child beyond the mentoring hour?

Some churches may offer child/family activities or events for the local community. Parents of mentored children may sign an activity release form which permits the child or family to take part in these group events. Children and their families can only participate with written permission from parents.

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How do parents react to referral of their children to the mentoring program?

Most principals discuss the referral with the parent and explain that the Kids Hope Aus. mentoring program can benefit any child. Children can be referred for many reasons. Some schools have asked for a mentor for every child! Most parents are pleased to know that their children will have some additional support.

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Does a school with a chaplain need a program like Kids Hope Aus.?

Kids Hope Aus. complements the work of school chaplains. In fact, chaplains have been some of the most vocal advocates for Kids Hope Aus.

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Is Kids Hope Aus. a religious program?

No. Kids Hope Aus. offers academic, social and emotional support to children referred to the program. Mentors strictly adhere to guidelines on respecting the secular nature of education. The mentoring hour is not used for any religious purposes.

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