Due to increased gang presence in Suffolk County, the commercial sexual exploitation of children has become a growing epidemic on the East End of Long Island. This social problem has created a pressing need for additional support services for young people who have been impacted by or are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation. Safe Harbour Mentoring, an EAC Network program, works on the frontlines, making a difference in the lives of young people in our communities. Learn more about this solution-based youth mentoring program and find out what you can do to help.
Safe Harbour Mentoring’s Solution-Based Model
Based in the Suffolk County Child Advocacy Center in Central Islip, Safe Harbour Mentoring delivers wide-ranging services to young trauma survivors. It promotes strength-based goals to assist young people with recognizing their value and helping them grow in their identity as healthy, happy human beings.
What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is a voluntary, reciprocal relationship that helps youth grow, learn, and develop through interactions with a role model. These relationships can have a powerful, positive impact on many areas of life, including academic, social, and economic prospects.
How Our Youth Mentoring Program Works
Our youth mentoring program provides trauma-informed support to Suffolk County young individuals who have been impacted by or are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation. It matches program participants with a volunteer mentor who empowers them to recognize their strengths, so they can develop constructive and healthy relationships.
Services Available
- Referrals (including shelters, residential placement, and therapy)
- Group enrichment activities
- Education and vocational advocacy (including resume building assistance, job readiness, and job placement)
- Community education
- Mentorship
Join the Mentoring Movement
Every January, the mentoring movement joins together to celebrate National Mentoring Month. Over the last two decades, the mentoring movement has made significant progress. Since 2002, there has been a more than ten-fold increase in young people in structured mentoring relationships.
Through EAC Network, you can join the mentoring movement.
How to Become a Youth Mentor
If you want an opportunity to be a role model to a young person in need and become more educated and informed about the types of individuals in Safe Harbour Mentoring, we would like to hear from you.
Our youth mentoring program is looking for individuals who:
- Want to give back to the community
- Are committed, compassionate, caring, and consistent
- Are 21 years of age or older
- Live on Long Island
- Have a valid New York State driver’s license
- Are able to devote four or more hours a month to mentoring
- Can make a one-year commitment to our youth mentoring program
- Are from diverse backgrounds
- Are sensitive and respectful to personalities of different educational, economic, cultural, and racial backgrounds
Call us today at 631-439-0480 or email natasha.george@eac-network.org to learn more!
Support EAC Network’s Mission to Empower Young People
EAC Network is a not-for-profit social service agency that empowers, assists, and cares for more than 40,000 people in need through 100 programs and direct support services across Greater New York. Our mission is to respond to human needs with programs and services that protect children, promote healthy families and communities, help seniors, and empower individuals to take control of their lives.
Consider making a donation today!
Or, check out our Amazon Wish List! These are items that youth often need and/or can be beneficial to healing and growth. When you purchase an item from this list, it goes directly to a young person in Suffolk County and makes a positive impact.
