After receiving dozens of requests from current and past SDKF families, we are so pleased to announce that we are now offering a mentorship program for children and adolescents!
This program matches your child with a high school or college-aged student who has volunteered their time to invest in mentoring a child or peer! ALL mentors are supervised by a clinical staff member at San Diego Kids First to ensure that your child is receiving optimal guidance, leadership, and overall enrichment. Furthermore, your child will be paired with a mentor based on their individualized needs, interests, and preferences!
HOW YOUR CHILD CAN BE
NEFIT BY BEING PAIRED WITH A MENTOR!
When asked to comment on San Diego Kids First’s new mentorship program one of our colleagues, Katie Dominguez, MS, PA, at Scripps Coastal Pediatrics, Encinitas stated:
“I believe mentor programs are a valuable resource for children with emotional, social, or behavioral challenges by providing a vital support system that complements medical care and therapy. Mentors offer children with developmental weakness a safe space to express themselves, improve confidence, and develop crucial life skills while enjoying the companionship of a caring volunteer in their community. “-Katie Dominguez, MS, PA, Scripps Coastal Pediatrics, Encinitas.
Parents: Here are some of the social, emotional, or behavioral challenges that research has shown mentors to be helpful with:
-Conversational skills
-Interacting with same-age peers
-Self-advocacy or communicating with adults
-Handing and coping with negative feelings in a developmentally appropriate way/.emotion regulation
-Self-confidence
-Self-esteem
-Feeling of ‘belonging’ and connectedness
– Relationship building
Situations a mentor can help your child successfully navigate:
Tantrums around particular non-preferred activities (piano lessons, chores, etc.)
Friendship making skills
Learning Flexibility
Resistance and/or avoidance of homework or other tasks
Focus and/or endurance with tasks
Handling disappointments or conflicts with siblings or peers
Feeling ‘ lonely’, ‘unlikeable; or ‘friendless’
FROM OUR TEEN MENTOR LEADER:
Local Torrey Pines Junior, Natasha, is spearheading our program by helping to solicit, screen, and match motivated teens and college students with children in need. Here is a word from Natasha:
“Hi! My name is Natasha and I am a Junior at Torrey Pines High School. I’ve been passionate about working with children and youth and helping kids with various challenges for several years. This year I decided I would like to bring my passion for helping children to San Diego Kids First by starting a new mentorship program! In this mentorship program, we will be matching high school and college students with individual children or teens with various needs in order to provide guidance, modeling, emotional and social coaching, and companionship!”
Details:
COST: $25/hr
Commitment: Mentors will honor a 6-month commitment with your child. The frequency of meetings is arranged on a case-by-case basis with you and your child’s mentor.
High school and College Students: Do you have a passion for working with children and want to help a child in need? Please contact San Diego Kids First and submit your resume, and cover letter, along with one reference letter from a teacher to contact@sdkidsfirst.com.
We are so excited to offer this new service to our community! If you have any questions or would like to sign your child up for our mentorship program, please contact our office manager, Jenaya at 858-692-4187 // contact@sdkidsfirst.com and she will be happy to help you!