What is C.O.A.C.H Community Mentoring?
C.O.A.C.H. Community Mentoring is a community strengthening project Wellspring that aims to strengthen families through facilitating emotional, economic, social and spiritual growth.
C.O.A.C.H. targets isolated families with children under 12 at risk of isolation, conflict, addiction, poverty or other social problems.
The focus is on helping families by improving life skills, connection with community and health and well-being to prevent child abuse, family breakdown and educational failure.
How Does it Work?
- Recruitment, training and supervision for coaches
- Carefully matching families and volunteers
- Fun activities help build a supportive relationship
- Families identify strengths and weaknesses and learn new skills
- Enabling families to reach their life goals
- Families link in with employment, community and churches for long term growth and support
The coach listens, offers practical help and provides advocacy and coaching towards the families’ life goals. Coaching is a way to bring out the best in people and help them make use of their own resources.
How is C.O.A.C.H. Community
Mentoring Funded?
C.O.A.C.H. Community Mentoring relies on donations.
What About Evaluation?
Independent evaluation conducted by Monash University is testing whether emotional, social, economic and spiritual health has improved, and provide valuable feedback and information for improving the pilot program.
How Can I Get Involved?
There are four ways you can help families and the community through C.O.A.C.H. Community Mentoring:
- Volunteer as a Coach (3 hours per week).
- Volunteer as a Coach Leader (8 hours per week).
- Make a 100% tax-deductible donation.
- Sponsor a Coach (as an individual or through a business) via regular 100% tax-deductible sponsorship.
For further information please contact:
Coordinator
New Peninsula Community Caring
370 Craigie Road
Mount Martha
03 5973 8888
office@newpeninsula.com.au
Who are the Coaches?
A coach is defined as a volunteer who is willing to draw alongside a family, offering practical help and coaching them towards their life goals.
How are Coaches Chosen?
Coaches are volunteers recruited from local churches and are invited to complete an application form, supply references and attend an interview. Coaches must have a satisfactory police check.
Important qualities for volunteers are:
- Reliability
- Empathy
- Perseverance
- A sense of humour
How are Coaches Trained?
Training is ongoing, interactive and discussion based. An initial 30-hour training program with professional guest speakers covers:
- An Introduction to Coaching
- Boundaries and Values
- Families at risk
- Communication skills and Effecting Change
How are Coaches Supported?
Coaches also receive ongoing:
- Training
- Group supervision and support
- One on one supervision and support by a qualified Social Worker, Pastor or Community Worker
How do Families Benefit?
Families can benefit from:
- A supportive and nurturing relationship with a coach
- Confidence and a sense of purpose
- Awareness of broader choices and lifestyles
- Life goals
- Improved relationships and communication skills
- Access to community services
- Skills such as finding employment, parenting, budgeting and managing a family
- Links with employment, and training
- Improved Community networks (such as church or sports clubs)
Recent research demonstrates connection with church and community leads to:
- Improved sleep and a more rapid recovery from injury and illness
- Decreased stress and risk of suicide
- Decreased prevalence of illness, substance abuse, depression, and juvenile delinquency
- Improved resilience and well-being
How do Coaches Benefit?
Volunteer Coaches can gain:
- An opportunity to contribute to the community
- Understanding of community and family needs
- Training and transferable skills
- Career opportunities
- Confidence and self esteem
- Communication and leadership skills
- Favourable attitudes towards the community
- Supportive and nurturing relationships
How does the Community Benefit?
The community can be strengthened by:
- Increased protective factors for reducing crime and family violence
- More accessible services
- Responsiveness to community needs
- Improved training, communication, coaching and leadership skills for volunteers
- A partnership across local government, churches and community
- Improved sense of community belonging, spirituality and health and wellbeing
- An expanded body of knowledge on coaching, mentoring, and strengthening families
