We actually don't have a mentoring program of our own here at The Village Church. We partner with three organizations, Communities in Schools of North Texas, The Nelson Center, and Champions of Hope Dallas to meet this need. When our members ask about mentoring, we direct them to these organizations because we have an active partnership with these organizations.

There are several other good mentoring organizations that exist in North Texas, across the country and around the world. Here are a few that we know of that you might want to look into:

• West Dallas, Texas — Mercy Street www.mercystreetdallas.org
• Fort Worth, Texas — Youth For Christ www.yfc.org
• United States — Big Brothers Big Sisters www.bbbs.org

Yes, everyone working with children must fill out a criminal background check.

Each of the organizations we work with have their own rules regarding who can mentor through their organization and who cannot. Anyone with a criminal record of child abuse or sexual assault will not be permitted to mentor a child.

Contact one of the organizations we partner with and see if they serve your child's school. If they do, then you can request that your child be mentored through their organization.

We ask that you commit for one school year, September to June. While there are unforeseen circumstances that may come up, many of these children have been let down time and time again by adults, and we want mentors that are going to make a commitment and stand by it.

Yes, we would love for you to continue with the same child all the way through the end of high school.

Many of these students have built a wall as a defense mechanism. It may take time to develop a close relationship. Stay patient and continue to meet with the child. Also, ask the site coordinator for some help and some suggestions that might break the ice.

Schools are the safest environment for the children, as well as for the adults. Some of the programs we work with, such as Communities in Schools and the Nelson Children Center, only allow you to mentor at their facilities. Champions of Hope is a community-based mentoring program, so you can mentor children from their organization both on and off campus.