UM mentors offer hope to at-risk kids

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
More than anything, Paul Bern-stein of Hunt wants to make a difference.
He works with troubled teens—the emotionally disturbed and physically violent, those who already have a record of bad choices. Often, by the time they reach him, it’s too late to help them.
So when faced with an opportunity to reach younger children through his church, Hunt UMC, Bernstein and his wife were the first in line.
“We both thought, if there was a way to catch kids early, it would be great,” Bernstein said. “That might be kids who are disinterested in school or those who are losing sight of the good things, the things that put you on the right track in life. It would be beneficial to catch them then.”
In 2007 Hunt UMC began partnering with Kids Hope USA, a mentoring program that works through local churches to reach at-risk elementary-age children, and Hunt Elementary School.
Orlene Kitzman, children’s and youth ministry director at Hunt UMC, said she had been involved in the program at First Christian Church before moving to Hunt UMC. Believing it was an asset to Hunt UMC, Kitzman agreed to partner with Kids Hope USA again when leaders from the organization approached her.
“It’s such a great ministry to train people in the congregation to go into the school,” Kitzman said. “A lot of people won’t go in (schools) because of a fear. Churches want to reach out and love children, but they don’t know how. Having a program like this, we teach them how.”
Kids Hope USA is an award-winning program launched in 1993. What makes it unique, Kitzman said, is that it encourages churches to have a prayer partner for every mentor/mentee coupling. That way someone is praying while the child is being mentored.
The church is “starting out small,” Kitzman said, with only a few mentors. Mentors must complete three hours of training before they can enter the school. Training covers the separation of church and state, how to be an effective mentor and what to do when a child admits he is being abused.
Teachers select the students who receive a mentor, Kitzman said. Mentors are not allowed to evangelize but can invite the children they’re mentoring to church activities.
Kitzman said the program is good for those youngsters with no positive role models in their lives.
“The reason Kids Hope USA even started was because the schools were asking for mentors,” she said. “It started out as an experiment and ended up being a national organization. Schools need it because we have a lot of at-risk children who need love and attention.”
Statistics show that one of five children in America lives in poverty, Kitzman said. Two of five children live in single-parent homes, and one of three children lacks a significant father figure.
That’s what Bernstein said he hopes he can change for the boy he’s mentoring.
“(Troubled teens) have gotten to that point because they didn’t have anybody to spend time with them,” he said. “I want to give him one-on-one time and see if he can regain an interest (in school). I want him to get motivated and put forth the effort. I want him to know that somebody’s there to help him.”
The Commission on Children at Risk reported in 2003 that children are “hardwired to connect” and that their learning ability is impaired if they have no adult in their life who cares, Kitzman said.
Principals in the schools have told her that if church members would just drive by the school while youngsters are playing on the playground to wave at them, it would show them that someone found them important and would significantly affect their lives.
Linda McGee, a retired teacher and member of Hunt UMC, said she trained to be a mentor because she wanted to show a child how much he or she really mattered.
She is mentoring a little girl, helping her with subtraction and guiding her while she writes a story.
“There is something lacking for her as far as family ties,” McGee said. “I hope to give her emotional support. Anything that we can give to children is worth it.”
To learn more about Kids Hope USA, visit www.kidshopeusa.org.