Children and Youth

Organizations Serving Children and Youth

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Phone: (574) 232-9958

Mission: The concept of Big Brothers/Big Sisters service is that the friendship, companionship and guidance of a caring adult can make a positive difference in the life of a child growing up in a one parent home. As a preventative measure, the benefits of Big Brothers/Big Sisters program are extremely valuable in improving self-esteem, nurturing new interests, exposing a child to new and different activities, developing trust, and learning to build relationships.

Volunteers: Volunteers for the core program must reside, work, or attend school in St. Joseph County and must possess the ability and willingness to give a commitment of the four years of attending college and spend 3-5 hours with the child per week. Helping Hands Program provides one-on one activities with individual children. School Mentor program at Prairie or Marquette Schools at 11am-1pm, work one-on-one on self esteem or academic. Transportation is needed for all of the programs. Volunteers must go through the screening program before being accepted for any program offered.

BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB

Phone: (574) 232-2048

Website: www.bgcsjc.org

Mission: The Boys' and Girls' Club is an organization dedicated to promoting the health, social, educational, vocational, and character development of boys and girls ages 5 through 18.
Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to assist with Tutoring, Health and Physical Recreation, and Social Recreation programs. Volunteers are expected to commit to 2 hours a week.

EL CAMPITO, INC.

Phone: (574) 232-0220

Background: El Campito is a state licensed bilingual day care center with maximum enrollment of 60 children ages six months to six years. It is designed for low-income families whose parents are working or in school. El Campito is committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment for children who come from lower income bilingual families.

Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to spend time with children to provide role models for these young children from single parent families. Volunteers can also assist regular day care instructors in planning and implementing their organized program. Volunteers commit to 2-4 hours a week.

FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S CENTER

Phone: (574) 288-0827 (South Bend)

Phone: (574) 232-2255 (Mishawaka)

Website: www.familychildrenscenter.org

Background: Family and Children's Center provides advocacy, education, intervention and treatment to prevent and eliminate child abuse.

HEALTHWORKS! KIDS' MUSEUM

Phone: (574) 245-3655

Website: www.healthworkskids.org

Background: HealthWorks! is an interactive health education center located in downtown South Bend, focusing on changing a kids perspective of health. We cater to grades Kindergarten through 6th grade and are open to both school field trips and the general public.

Volunteers: Some positive changes have recently occurred at HealthWorks! regarding volunteer recruitment and the writing of volunteer job descriptions. One major change is using volunteers during the time a school or group field trip is present at HealthWorks!. This reassures volunteers that they will have interaction with kids on the exhibit floor. As a volunteer, you will "play" with local grade school kids in exploring the topic of health as they travel through our exhibit floor or participate in a theatrical classroom.

LA CASA DE AMISTAD

Phone: (574) 233-2120

Website: www.lacasadeamistad.org

Background: La Casa De Amistad operates a youth and adult center on the west side of South Bend. La Casa addresses the needs of South Bend area Hispanic youth through organized activities and support. Youth participate in a range of activities to help develop leadership skills and achieve an understanding of their own culture and heritage as it relates to the general population.

Volunteers: Volunteers are needed for several programs including tutoring, after-school/recreation programs, nursing assistants, and other programming.

Please Note: Internship opportunities are also available. Hispanic or Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed in particular.

LOGAN CENTER

Phone: (574) 289-4831

Website: www.logancenter.org

Background: Logan Center provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families.

Volunteers: Volunteers work directly with Logan Center clients, mostly on one-on-one or in small groups. Activities include recreation, swimming, and classroom work. All volunteers are interviewed and receive on-the-job program orientation. Volunteers are expected to give at least one hour a week regularly, up to a maximum of 5-6 hours a week.

PARKVIEW JUVENILE CENTER

Phone: (574) 235-5437

Background: The St. Joseph County Juvenile Probation Department has been providing support services to youth since October 1981. Volunteers Improving Parkview (V.I.P.) programs offer opportunities to over 50 volunteers annually who dedicate their time and talent to the youth of our community. The purpose of Parkview Juvenile Center is to ensure public safety and provide appropriate intervention for youth under the age of 18. The Parkview Juvenile Center consists of three components: Probation, Detention, and Support Services. The St. Joseph County Probate Court oversees all three. The V.I.P. Programs link community volunteers with youth in need of support services. To enable clients to become contributing members of society, they offer counseling, education, assistance in preparing for and finding employment, and other opportunities for community building.

Volunteers: There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. We also have internships available.

ST. HEDWIG'S OUTREACH CENTER

Phone: (574) 287-0845

Background: St. Hedwig's Outreach Center serves families of the west side of South Bend by providing after school tutoring and a hot meal to children on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. St. Hedwig's was organized to give children from single parent or unstable families a hospitable and stable place in order to help them succeed in school and learn necessary life skills.

Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help with tutoring and to provide stable role models for children who come from families that are in crisis. This involves one or two afternoons per week from 4:30 - 6 p.m.

ST. MARGARET'S HOUSE

Phone: (574) 234-7795

Website: www.stmargaretshouse.org

Background: St. Margaret's House is a day-time, drop-in center for women. It provides a place offering friendship and understanding, a clearing house for other resources in the area, a kitchen, snacks, beverages and lunch, a place to take a bath or shower, a place to do laundry, a safe place for children to play, a place to make phone calls and cool off in the summer.

Volunteers: Women volunteers are needed to help with children, answer the phone, and serve as hostess for guests. Volunteers could also help with literacy work, tutoring for the GED, cooking, aerobics, spiritual groups, and other activities that would be useful to the guests. Volunteers are needed during daytime hours on weekdays and are expected to commit to 2-3 hours a week.