Kinship Youth Enjoy Outing

September 22, 2010 Contributor

FULTON, NY – Youth participating in Catholic Charities of Oswego County’s Kinship Support Program were recently treated to a trip to Thunder Island Amusement Park.

Bernice Bartlett of Catholic Charities’ CYO Mentoring Program shares a water ride with Josh, a participant in Catholic Charities’ Kinship Support Program.
Bernice Bartlett of Catholic Charities’ CYO Mentoring Program shares a water ride with Josh, a participant in Catholic Charities’ Kinship Support Program.

The outing also included students from G. Ray Bodley High School who are serving as mentors with Catholic Charities’ CYO Mentoring Program.

Mentors in the program were able to get a sampling of what their mentoring experience would be like as they interacted with the Kinship youth.

“It was an excellent day at many levels,” said Jonathan Gilmore, coordinator of the Kinship Program. “The Kinship children enjoyed bonding with other children in the program, the mentors were able to put their mentoring skills to use with the children and Caregivers in the Kinship Program also had the opportunity to get to know each other and share some of their similar experiences.”

Catholic Charities’ Kinship Program provides support and advocacy for Kinship Caregivers, people who, through a variety of circumstances, have taken on the responsibility of raising their relative’s children.

Families in the program are offered assistance with any issues they may be experiencing.

A school based mentoring program, Catholic Charities’ CYO Mentoring Program matches elementary school children with high school students and provides them with peer support and a positive role model.

Students meet weekly throughout the school year and spend time together in a variety of ways including tutoring, games, activities and outings.

Mentors provide friendship, guidance, and support through one on one time and group activities.

Staff or volunteers of the CYO Mentoring Program supervise all activities and meetings.

The CYO Mentoring Program is made possible in part through grants from Entergy, HSBC, the United Way of Greater Oswego County, the Diocesan Hope Appeal, NY State Office of Children and Family Services, Oswego City-County Youth Bureau and Oswego County Opportunities.

For more information on the Kinship Support Program, call Gilmore at 598-3980 ext. 233.

For more information on CYO Mentoring Program, contact Jim Smiley at 598-3980 ext. 254 or visit www.ccoswego.com missing or outdated ad config

Print this entry