Mentoring Services
 

Our Past:
Operation Transformation contracted with the Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative (now Offender Success) from 2006 to 2014 to develop and manage a reentry mentoring program. The program operated in eleven counties and provided services to more than one thousand returning citizens. During these years, the program was recognized as highly successful.

The program director served on both State and National committees addressing reentry issues and was contracted to train mentoring directors whose programs received federal funding through the Second Chance Grant. Operation Transformation also provided consulting services to several faith-based and community organizations in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Brighton.

After eight years of partnership, funding for the program ended due to budget cuts within the Michigan Department of Corrections.

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Our Present and Future:
In 2019, we relaunched the mentoring initiative in St. Clair County. We reorganized to focus exclusively on St. Clair County and have continued to grow. As of 2023, we have more than 35 active mentor/mentee relationships, with numbers steadily increasing.

Our mentees are referred from many sources, including the local county jail, Blue Water Recovery Center, and several halfway houses in the area. Our mission is to walk alongside individuals in recovery by serving as encouragers, role models, and friends.

We are currently recruiting, training, and certifying volunteer mentors, most of whom come from local churches. Once matched with a mentee, mentors receive ongoing support throughout the duration of the relationship. Mentors commit to meeting with their mentees at least four hours per month for a minimum of one year.

 

We need your help!
If you are interested in learning more or serving as a volunteer mentor, please contact Randy Bennett (Operation Transformation Outreach Coordinator) at 734-536-8864 or rbennett@optrans.org. The application to become a member is provided below.

We are also seeking additional funding to support the program. Please let us know if you would be interested in joining our financial support team.