On Monday, First Lady Casey DeSantis joined the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and Volunteer Florida to announce the launch of DJJ’s new mentoring initiative – One Mentor, One Child. This initiative will build a statewide mentoring network that will match mentors with at-risk youth in their local communities.
DJJ will work with Volunteer Florida using Volunteer Connect to recruit mentors who will receive training from DJJ and be matched with a young person in their community. The goal of this mentoring initiative is to build relationships and identify mentors who are interested in becoming positive role models in the lives of young people in their local community.
“Mentoring can change the trajectory of a child’s entire life by building a strong connection with a caring adult who can help guide them away from dangerous activities and toward a successful future,” said First Lady DeSantis. “I am grateful that DJJ and Volunteer Florida are collaborating to launch the One Mentor, One Child initiative, which will help shape and support children in Florida.”
“DJJ recognizes the important role our partners and community members play in supporting the work of our agency, and we are excited to work with even more Floridians looking to make a difference in the lives of children,” said DJJ Sec. Eric Hall. “The One Mentor, One Child initiative will allow us to connect a child with a dedicated mentor who can serve as a positive influence and make a lasting impression in their life.”
“We are excited to partner with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to provide a platform to assist in expanding mentoring opportunities for children in need of guidance and support,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Corey Simon. “We look forward to working with them as they seek out mentors who can give their time and talents back to youth so they can learn, grow, and realize their full potential.”
DJJ will also work with organizations like the Pace Center for Girls, Boys & Girls Clubs, and AMIkids and plans to broaden its partnership opportunities to other community organizations to expand its statewide network.
