Kids On Track…Through Mentoring is a program that is provided in a nurturing, group setting at a school site where On Track staff members and trained teen role models/mentors work synergistically with selected 4th, 5th, and 6th grade children. On Track has provided services in the cities of Anaheim, Irvine, Orange, Santa Ana, and Westminster, and is currently providing services at Culverdale Elementary School in Irvine and at Kennedy Elementary School in Santa Ana.
On Track has a long-standing history of creating and implementing effective, innovative programs for children and youth that are designed to facilitate, model, and promote:
The multi-component program is offered 4 hours per week, almost year-round, during the critical hours of 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at various elementary school sites throughout Orange County. The participating mentees are children who have been identified by teachers, school psychologists, and administrators as students who would benefit from the youth asset building curriculum and mentoring.
The mentors are outstanding teens who are recruited, screened, and trained by the On Track directors. All mentor/mentee activities are led and supervised by On Track staff.
Through a nurturing, supervised and structured approach, the following services are provided at the school site: 1) one-on-one mentoring and youth asset building; 2) a comprehensive conflict resolution and character development curriculum; 3) academic assistance through the On Track reading club, homework assistance, and tutoring; and 4) community service and recreational opportunities, including a health & fitness component.
Youth-to-youth mentoring is a unique concept that benefits both mentors and mentees. It benefits the high school students because they are given extensive mentoring and leadership training as well as opportunities to voice their opinions, experience the rewards of community service work, strengthen leadership qualities, and learn asset-building techniques. Most importantly, they are given an opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life.
“It’s a very creative idea that while mentors help their mentees, they do learn a lot of communication techniques which cannot be gained from school books.”
~ Parent of Irvine mentor
Mentees benefit greatly from the Kids On Track program. By involving the teen mentors in the character development and lesson segments (as well as all components), the mentees also want to participate in the process. Teen mentors are "cool" role models and the mentees are comfortable talking to them and emulating mentors close to their own age (usually a 6 to 8 year difference). The mentees feel honored to have the genuine attention and care of teens who are willing to dedicate so many hours to them. The mentees' outlook on life, academic growth, and attitudes and behavior significantly improve from consistently getting positive reinforcement from youth mentors, adult On Track staff members, and On Track AmeriCorps members.
"I like On Track better than the other after-school programs because they pay more attention to us—they help each of us with our homework, everyone has a mentor, they spend time talking and helping each of us. We are special, they care about us. The program is like famous, because all of my friends and other kids want to join.
I think it should be every day after school."
~Mentee Comment
- honesty and integrity
- respect for individuals and community
- non-violence and anger management
- individual responsibility
- physical fitness and healthy eating habits
- academic achievement
- benefits of staying drug-free
- benefits of staying on track
