Why osceola?
As indicated by the U.S. Division of Education, 2,000 children live in central Florida hotels. That estimate does not include the untold numbers of youths who are too young to attend school, have dropped out, or have generally escaped notice. Families make up an increasing segment of America’s homeless population.
Thousands live in hotel or motel lodgings. The Department of Education has identified 47,000 hotel-dwelling children in schools around the nation and found that the quantity of homeless children in government-funded schools has increased by 38% since 2007. In central Florida public schools, it is not unusual to have approximately 19 or 20 homeless children in a class of 22 at
(Council of Homelessness, 2018).
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Data gathered by the Florida Department of Education shows that there has been an increase in the number of homeless alumni in the past five years. In the 2013-2014 school year, only 65% of homeless high school students graduated. In 2017-2018, 82% of homeless secondary school students graduated. This 17% increase in the graduation rate is an extraordinary improvement. In spite of this success, the focus needs to shift to the individuals who did not graduate. In 2017-2018, there were 310 students and only 256 graduated. There are no reports or tracking on the 54 students who did not graduate.
The vision
The vision behind Trinity Mentorship Program is to respond to the growing number of youth who are falling through the cracks of the education system. The objective of the mentorship program is to identify homeless high school youth who are having trouble transitioning to adulthood and offer support that prevents the pitfalls that can hinder them from reaching their purpose, whether that is going to college or technical school. The program is focused on helping homeless youth who struggle academically but have the potential to do better. Trinity Mentorship Program will also help homeless high school students develop and attain their goals as youth in general need to be a in caring, comprehensive environment that promotes their effort and reinforces self-respect. Trinity Mentorship Program will work with students in the ninth through twelfth grade. The program will pair each mentee with a mentor for one year. Each mentor will meet with his or her assigned mentee and complete weekly scheduled activities that will strengthen their relationship. Trinity mentors will receive continuous support and training throughout each year, including monthly meetings to give updates on each mentee’s progress. The leaders of Trinity Mentorship Program hope to create a ripple effect in Osceola County and create an environment that will be valuable to each mentor and mentee as well as the county at large (Pakroo, 2018).
THE PROGRAM
WRITING THE PLAN.
Writing the Plan will focus on helping tenth graders; they, too, will have one-on-one meetings with their mentors. The objective at the tenth grade level is to help homeless high school youth tap into their talents and gifts.
This level will follow a structured program. At the end of the academic year, participants will also join in the dinner and award ceremony.
BELIEVING THE VISION.
Believing the Vision is focused on engaging eleventh grade homeless youth mentees, who will have structured weekly activities with their mentors. We will teach these students to be self-disciplined, set goals, and learn how to develop and maintain hope. Trinity Mentorship will prepare our mentees for the ACT or SAT and fund the cost of these tests.
Participants at this level will also be included in the annual dinner and awards.
STEPPING INTO PURPOSE.
Stepping into purpose involves supporting homeless youth in the twelfth grade. Mentees will interact with their mentors through planned activities. Through consistent positive interactions, mentees will be able to determine their next step after high school. Trinity Mentorship will provide these students with resources such as (helping students prepare for the ACT and SAT exams, travel to varying colleges for college week, helping with school admissions application, assisting with application fees) that will successfully help them prepare for moving into their purpose. Participants in this level will be involved in the annual dinner and award ceremony.