Volunteers in the agency play a critical role in supplementing the agency’s rehabilitation program by offering a variety of life skills and other activities for the youth. Mentoring is one of them. Mentoring is a one-on-one assignment with a volunteer and a youth or multiple youth to encourage them to excel in their treatment and community reentry program. The goal is to engage the mentee and have them set realistic expectations and goals so that, when they return to their communities, they have something to work for and thereby increase their chances that they will not reoffend and get recommitted.
“When I meet with these boys, I see boredom, loneliness and a lack of hope,” said Mr. Trevino. “I want them to realize that they can overcome what they have done and can turn their lives around and become contributing members of society. I do this because someone needs to hear their voice crying in the dark and to let them know that they matter to someone.”
Fidel Garcia, who manages the volunteer program at Evins, notes that currently 17 percent of youth at Evins are matched with a community volunteer and the facility is looking for more mentor volunteers. According to Rebecca Garza, Family Liaison Administrator in the TJJD’s central office, 48 of the 120 youth currently at Evins have not had any family visitation since being admitted to TJJD. Evins Family Liaison Elva Benitez said, “Efforts are being made to increase the number of
family contacts through family days, extra visitation days and web cam sessions.” While web cam sessions do not take the place of face to face contact, they do add an additional way of keeping communication open between youth and family.
“It is very rewarding to see improvements in the student’s attitude.”
- Ernestina Barreiro, Volunteer Mentor
Being a mentor is not for everyone as it takes commitment, dedication, and patience. For mentoring
relationships to flourish, volunteers must commit to visit with the youth for at least four hours every month for six months.
“You have to believe that you can make a difference in the youth, regardless of what he has done in the past. You have to keep moving with him forward regardless of whether he has a good week or bad,” said Mr. Garcia.
Sometimes the youth is having a bad day and just chooses not to participate. On other occasions, the activities are cancelled or the youth might have been in an altercation and not allowed to attend. As with all volunteers, mentors must be willing to commit to a training and screening process before they are assignment.
Another mentor, Ernestina Barreiro, who has mentored several youth since 2012 wrote in one of her reports, “The mentoring program benefits me because I feel that I may contribute a tiny bit to the betterment of a young person.” In another report she said, “It is very rewarding to see improvements in the student’s attitude.”
Recently students from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley have begun to participate in the mentoring program. Several of them are studying to be doctors, civil engineers, or in the criminal justice field.
Kai Green, a professional soccer player with The RGV FC TOROS (member of the United Soccer
League), mentors one Evins youth and recently said that on his first visit, “Things went very well during last session with my mentee. I came in with some math problems that he felt he needed extra work on and he really is a quick learner. He flew through my work! After that we played some cards and talked about how his grandmother would be visiting him within the next month or so.”
“What I and my father could have done in all the years that he has been in prison and I was growing up.”
- ERJC, Unidentified Youth
John (not his real name) is from the Texas Panhandle and has had no family visits in 15 months. He recounted how his mother is unable to visit him because of her medical problems, lack of transportation, and other siblings to look out for. His father has been serving time in prison and John hasn’t been able to see him since 2015. He added, that in having conversations with his mentor, he constantly thinks of “What I and my father could have done in all the years that he has been in prison and I was growing up.” John went on to say, “Most people don’t realize how much stress youth have while in here—just because we don’t show it. I enjoy having a mentor because it is nice to be able to talk to someone in here that is from the outside and release all this stress.”
The youth added that mentoring gives them another option to preoccupy their down time when they are not in treatment or group settings. He enjoys reading in his room and is looking forward to his release in a few months so he can work, help his mother, and possibly joining the military.
Tamu Steptoe, Superintendent of the Evins Regional Juvenile Center, said, “I believe volunteers play a vital role in transforming the lives of our youth today. Just a few hours a week can have a tremendous impact on a child’s life. The youth need somebody—a teacher, a mentor, a coach, or friends that can help point them in the right direction at that crucial crossroad in their life.”
For more information on other volunteer program or mentoring opportunities at Evins, please call
Volunteer Services at 956-289-5500.
PHOTO: Mentor-Ruben Guzman-Texas Department of Public Safety