Carmel Youth Assistance

Every child deserves to have a positive role model which he or she can trust. The Youth Assistance program partners a caring adult with a child who needs a mentor. The mentor and child do everyday activities together such as playing in the park, going to a movie or learning to balance a checkbook. Children matched with a mentor do better in school, have higher self-esteem and make better choices. A mentor will be asked to make a one-year commitment to spending at least one hour each week with your child doing things you both enjoy while you serve as a positive role model. You will not be expected to spend large sums of money. What is valuable is that you share time together and have fun as you introduce your child to new experiences. You will be asked to email a mentor report sheet after each visit.

Child advocates spend funds on children in need for items such as school supplies, clothing items and other expenses that are required for the child to succeed.

Students who depend on two meals per day at school and backpacks full of food for the weekends in the past had no resources during summer break. The summer lunch program targeted these children providing them with five healthy breakfasts and lunches for each of the 11 weeks of summer break. Families were also provided with a weekly menu plan tailored to the available items. Delivery was available for families who did not have readily available transportation.

Students in the program who are struggling academically will have access to tutors which we help introduce to those students. They can receive help in a safe environment at the Carmel public library.