Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth (COPY), a program of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, is offering a class to prepare volunteers to become mentors for children with an incarcerated parent.
After initial training and comprehensive background checks, volunteers are matched with a child in Bend, Redmond, Sisters or LaPine that share similar interests and activities and commit to spending a few hours a week together for a minimum of one year. This time is often spent on outside activities, exploring the community, doing art or craft projects, or simply hanging out and talking.
This 3½-hour virtual training covers program policies, how to establish a mentor relationship, the impact incarceration has on families, communication skills, and safety and best practices for mentoring in a COVID-19 world. There is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is required.
