Mentoring resources

What is a Memorandum of Understanding? A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is often explained as a document used to describe a common understanding of a working relationship between two (2) or more parties/entities. The document is not as binding as a contract, but it outlines a commitment between the parties/entities to work together collaboratively toward the same purpose or goal(s) and objective(s) and, related to the use of shared work, services and/or resources.

A good MOU can foster effective communication between/ among partners, increase access to a wide range of resources, strengthen existing and new partnerships and provide a framework for addressing issues of mutual concern.

YOUTH/TEEN/STUDENT/PEER COURT and PEER JURY DIVERSION PROGRAMS DEFINITION

Teen Court/Youth Court Program Description These are Juvenile Justice diversion programs in which juveniles are sentenced by their peers for minor crimes, offenses and/or violations. These juvenile diversion programs are administered on a local level by law enforcement agencies, probation departments, delinquency courts, schools and local non-profit organizations.

These programs offer communities an opportunity to provide immediate consequences for primarily first and 2nd time juvenile offenders, and they also offer important civic, service and volunteer opportunities for volunteer youth who can serve as judges, defenders, prosecutors, clerks, bailiff, jury foreperson, victim advocate, and jurors.

DELINQUENCY COURT DEFINITION

Delinquency Courts have jurisdiction over juveniles, juvenile delinquents, status offenders and Children and Youth in Need of Supervision. All Juvenile Courts are civil bodies. This means that juveniles cannot acquire a criminal record directly from Delinquency Court actions, where the actions remain confined to the Delinquency Court.

The Delinquency Court is most commonly associated with the Juvenile Justice System and juveniles who have committed a crime, offense and/or violation. Delinquency Courts are also commonly referred to as Juvenile Court and Family Court.

DEPENDENCY COURT DEFINITION

Dependency Courts involve a juvenile (child/ youth), typically in cases of abuse, neglect and mistreatment. Judges determine if allegations of abuse or neglect are sustained by the evidence and, if so, are legally sufficient to support state intervention on behalf of the child. Some youth who appear in the Delinquency Court also appear in the Dependency Court for dual adjudicatory issues.

The Dependency Court is most commonly associated with foster care, abuse and neglect issues involving youth younger than 18.

MENTORING PROGRAM DEFINITION

Mentoring Program involves a non-parental adult who plays an important role in promoting healthy development for youth. There are many mentoring models and even more programmatic differences within the different mentoring models. The goal of mentoring programs is to provide youth with positive adult contact and, thereby, reduce risk factors (e.g., early antisocial behavior, alienation, lack of commitment to school) by enhancing protective factors (e.g., healthy beliefs, opportunities for involvement, and social and material reinforcement for appropriate behavior). Mentors provide youth with personal connectedness, supervision and guidance, skills training, career or cultural enrichment opportunities, a knowledge of spirituality and values and, perhaps most importantly, goals and hope for the future.

Mentoring resources