Participation Agreement

 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Since 2011, Circle of Friends has been providing children with special, long-term relationships with caring, trained, and supervised adult mentors who serve as Friends to the children in our program. Circle of Friends believes that a long-term, sustainable relationship with a child can make a significant difference in that child's life. We have selected your child based on recommendations from your child's school because we believe that your child has potential to be very successful. We want to help open the door to their future so that they can become thriving members of our community. We know all children could benefit from the enriching experiences our program has to offer; however, the program can serve only a small number of children, and we believe that your child will benefit from all the great opportunities that we offer.

How does the program work? A mentor is assigned to each child selected for the program. A mentor is NOT a childcare provider; however, he/she is a trained, caring adult role model who will provide your child with a variety of life-enriching experiences, academic support, and activities throughout the duration that your child is in our program. Our mentors go through an extensive background check, in- depth initial training, with monthly training on our core assets during their first year of being matched.

Your child's mentor will work with your child in a one-on-one setting doing enrichment activities designed to help them develop valuable academic, social, and life skills that can assist them in making good choices, developing a strong self-concept, fostering, and maintaining a concern for others, and preparing them for their future success. These activities may include tutoring, educational outings such as going to the library and museums, developing special skills through enrollment in swim lessons or sports teams, and many other enriching opportunities such as summer camps, fishing, etc.

The mentor will make every effort to see your child once a week. There is no cost for participating in Circle of Friends, including the core services and activities that your child and mentor will do together.

We believe the children involved in the Circle of Friends program will benefit in the following ways:

• Increased academic achievement
• Improved social skills
• The development of new talents and interests
• An expanded world view
• A stronger self-concept

As your child progresses through Circle of Friends, we will continue to offer services to them to meet their developmental needs.

PARTICIPATION REQUIRMENTS

To help ensure the success and participation of your child, we need you as their parent/guardian to agree to some responsibilities that include:

• Respond in a timely fashion to all communication (returning/responding to phone calls, texts, notes, and letters
• Respond in a timely manner to needed documentation (parent signatures, surveys and feedback forms, etc
• Do your best to make your child available on agreed upon dates and times.
• Agree to contact the mentor in a timely manner if there is a change in your plans and your child is not available for a scheduled outing.
• Agree that your youth will be attending school, an alternative educational program or actively pursuing their HS GED or diploma.

As with any activity, there is always potential risk involved in participation including:

• Many activities arranged by Circle of Friends will include indoor and outdoor recreation. There is always some risk of injury in such activities.
• Many activities will require transportation, which often will be provided by the mentor or Circle of Friends staff. There is always some level of risk in transportation.
• As with school teachers, Circle of Friends employees and volunteers are mandatory reporters. If a mentor becomes aware of abuse or neglect occurring in the family or community, the mentor is required by law to report the information.

In order to maximize the potential for your child's success, it is important that we work together to provide the most effective and safest service to your youth.

EVALUATION

In order to offer your child access to the Circle of Friends program, we need your support and cooperation. Every year, we will ask for your help by filling out a survey evaluating the Circle of Friends program so that we can give your child the best possible experience.

As part of our program evaluation, you and your child will be asked to fill out survey forms for each year your child participates in the Circle of Friends program. You will be asked about: your child's behavioral and medical history; and your family's experiences and background including employment, health, substance abuse, and contact with the justice system. When the children get older, they will be asked about: attitudes about him/herself; use of free time; experiences with his/her mentor; other behavioral choices such as use of cigarettes or alcohol, and sexual activity for youth in grades 6 and above; and attitudes about school and peers. Also, as part of the evaluation, we ask that you permit Circle of Friends access to information that your child's School District may have on your child. This may include but is not limited to attendance records, test scores, assessments, report cards, referrals, suspensions or expulsions, any special notes or evaluations, and progress and behavioral checklists completed each year by the child's teacher. The information provided in our annual evaluation will help Circle of Friends offer the best services possible to your child. Most of all, we need you to be honest with us about the needs of your child.

All information collected will be kept confidential for internal use within Circle of Friends. All materials related to your child's evaluation will be kept in locked file cabinets and no information will be shared with the school or anyone else, unless Circle of Friends becomes aware of child abuse that is occurring in the home or community.

Circle of Friends may use this information to check the progress of the program and assess the benefits for its children. However, your consent and your child's participation in the project and its evaluation are voluntary. You or your child may decide not to participate or to answer only specific questions. Participants may skip evaluation activities and still receive services from Circle of Friends.

AUTHORIZATION

By signing below, you agree to allow your child to participate in the Circle of Friends program. It also means that you understand the general program goals and direction, including the possible benefits, activities and risks involved. Lastly, you are agreeing to give permission to Circle of Friends staff to discuss appropriate information regarding your child with the teachers and staff at your child's school. If you change your mind, you are free to withdraw your child from the program at any time.