Student and Parent Orientation Grades 9 12 PFE

Student and Parent Orientation (Grades 9 -12)

PFE Logo PFE – or Partnering For Eternity - strives to build intergenerational connections, providing opportunities for students and mentors to receive Christ's blessings of service, growth and friendship. Our logo depicts this mission: The hands represent senior mentor and mentee reaching for each other as they build a true and growing relationship. The heart represents our hope that all participants will find something far surpassing a scholarship opportunity as meaningful relationships grow. It is our hope that Partnering For Eternity succeeds in promoting relationships that will be emotionally, mentally, and spiritually nurturing for either or both parties. We hope the relationships will extend beyond visit seasons, through this life on earth and on to heaven.

Who Do We Need? We need people who are: v Passionate about service v Intentional and creative with their mentor visits v Committed to visiting a mentor 2+ hours weekly v Desire to positively impacting a mentor’s life v Looking to serve, grow, learn and build a relationship with this mentor v A student who values Christian education

How Does It Work? v Minimum of 1 Qualifying Unit per week (1 QU = 2+ contact hours and a written reflection) v Submit a reflection online, within 24 hours (excluding Sabbath hours), for your 2 contact hours each week. (do not submit a reflection if less than 2 hours) v Complete 14 QU's each term: (Sept. 1 - Dec. 31) & (Jan. 1 - April 30) v Only 1 QU allowed per week. v Your coordinator and PFE Admin will continually monitor reflection status. Students who fall behind will be immediately removed without payment. Blessings you will receive: v $800 scholarship for tuition per semester (paid January and May) v Continued eligibility in PFE the following semester v Joy in building a lasting relationship with your mentor!

Contact Hours Contact hours are time spent directly with your mentor or performing service for your mentor. Contact hours DO NOT include: v Transportation time v Virtual Visits v School or church programs

Steps to a Successful PFE Year Step 1: Attend Orientation Step 2: Choose Your Mentor Step 3: Apply Online for a Student Account Step 4: Schedule Your Visits Step 5: Visit! Step 6: Reflect on your time with your mentor within 24 hours

Step 1: Choose Your Mentor The PFE program was originally designed to ease senior isolation. An appropriate mentor is a cognitively healthy, older adult (suggested: retirement age) or someone with a disability who could use company and/or light assistance around the home. Find a Mentor: v With whom you can form a relationship, have similar interests/hobbies v Who has healthy cognitive capabilities (no Alzheimer’s or dementia) v Who might be lonely and is needing company v Who may be a neighbor or church member v Who can commit to 2+ hour every week for an entire semester. An older person who is truly in need of social interaction will have a very available schedule that can easily accommodate a young mentee. v Who is NOT related to you by any degree v Who does NOT live in a nursing home

Student/Mentor Match Checklist No two student/mentor matches are alike. Keep this guide in mind to achieve successful matches. Look for a majority of the characteristics below to be met as the intergenerational relationship grows through weekly PFE visits. q Senior loneliness is eased q Student is learning something q Mentor is learning something q Service is occurring q An intergenerational relationship is growing q Consistent visits occur q Students demonstrate accountability Also look for: q Committed parents q Passionate local donors q Involved churches

Step 2: Apply for a Student Account 1. Go to pfe. sffcfoundation. org - 2. Click "Request an Account" Choose "Student" 3. Fill out the form and submit 4. Once your school coordinator approves your account, you will receive an email prompting you to complete account creation by selecting a password 5. Follow the link and choose your password 6. Log in bookmark this page in for ease of access

Step 3: Schedule Your Visits Once your application is approved by your Coordinator, contact your mentor to set up weekly visits. You have approximately 17 weeks to complete 14 QUs. v Start your weekly visits early as more than 1 visit per week is not allowed, even if you or your mentor becomes sick or out of town for vacation. v Visits with your mentor during Sabbath hours, entertainment venues, and school events are not eligible for scholarship payment. v Decide with your parents, if they will visit with you or allow you to go alone (transportation to/from visit is your parent's responsibility). v Virtual visits will not count towards QU

Step 4: Start Visiting Discuss with your mentor what activities he/she would like to do during your visit together. Be on time, and let your mentor know ahead of time if you need to reschedule. Activity Ideas: v Fill in the PFE Calendar to plan for visits, birthdays, graduation, vacations, etc. v Ask your mentor to teach you a new recipe. v Read a book together. v Share a hobby with each other and learn something new. v Help your mentor with chores. v Ask your mentor to help you with homework. The ideas are endless! Work with your mentor to see what activities fit best for both of you.

Unacceptable PFE Activities These will not be awarded with scholarship funds: v Watching TV (if there is a special show you would like to share together occasionally, that is permissible) v Being on your phone or ignoring your mentor (this is a time to share together) v Visiting your mentor’s home while he/she is away v A mentor having more than one student v Virtual visits v Bouncing between mentors (you should have one mentor per semester, unless a switch is approved by your PFE Coordinator) v Visits that occur at a school event, entertainment venues, or during Sabbath hours

Parents and Siblings A PFE visit consists of one student and one mentor spending time together, forming a lasting relationship. Parent/Guardian Role if you choose to attend visits: v Be present during each visit to provide supervision in case you are needed, or an emergency occurs. Your role is NOT: v To facilitate the relationship-building process, conversations, or activities. Your child's mentor has been given tools and directions for facilitating their own visits.

Step 5: Reflect on Your Visit 1. Navigate to pfe. sffcfoundation. org - 2. Log in 3. Click “Reflections” 4. Choose to "Submit New" 5. Fill out the form and submit 6. Your coordinator has the option to approve, mark as incomplete or reject your reflection bookmark this page for ease of access v If approved, you will receive an email confirmation. v If rejected, you will need to submit a new reflection (with corrections) for this visit date.

Working with Senior Adults

What Do Senior Adults Want? v To feel that they are in control—don’t boss them around v Dignity and respect—don’t dismiss what they have to say v To be recognized for the things they have done and are doing v Someone to listen and talk to v Attention from those they love & respect v Privacy and respect for their “space” v Freedom and independence for as long as possible v Friends, young and old v To be in touch spiritually

How to Start a Conversation v Make positive observations about his/her room, home, yard, photographs, etc. and sincerely compliment your mentor v Be interested v Ask them if there is anything you can do to help v Always be respectful—use “Mr. ” or “Mrs. ” unless told otherwise

Physical Limitations of Senior Adults Hearing Loss—What do I do if my mentor can’t hear me? v Be patient and speak clearly and slowly v Face the person when you talk v Don’t shout v Avoid talking while eating or chewing gum v Be willing to patiently repeat what you said

Physical Limitations of Senior Adults Vision Loss v Your mentor may not always instantly recognize you v Your mentor may need you to be his/her “eyes” at times Speech Loss v Your mentor’s voice may become weaker and harder to understand – be patient

Physical Limitations of Senior Adults Memory Loss v Very normal as people grow older v Practice patience when you hear repeated stories

Physical Limitations of Senior Adults Complaining v Because of their frustrations, your mentor may complain about family, living situation, health, etc. v Don’t feel you have to solve problems for your mentor v Practice “active listening” by repeating what you think your mentor said, and offer sympathy

Safety In order to keep each student safe while visiting: v Parents of students in grades 9 -12 must make their own decision about attending visits. You are ultimately responsible for your child’s safety. v Make sure you are complying with any of your conference’s policies for student safety, including background checks, if applicable. v Your school may require parents to sign a permission slip.

You’re Ready! You are now ready to build a relationship with your mentor! If you have any questions now or throughout the year, talk to your PFE Coordinator. If you have any questions that your Coordinator cannot answer, ask him/her to contact the PFE Administration. Please share your creative visit ideas on the PFE Facebook page to encourage others! Students & Parents v Thank you for enriching the life of your mentor through your time and service!

Social Media PFE e. Newsletter v Sent monthly via email to share stories, activity ideas, and upcoming dates v Can be found at https: //sffcfoundation. org/pfe/news Instagram: partneringforeternity v Follow our page and DM us with any pictures or stories you would like to share about your PFE program. Facebook Page: Partnering for Eternity v Request to join our FB page and once you are approved, please post any comments, questions, or great ideas you would like to share or discuss with PFE administration or other PFE schools.

Thank you for reviewing your training!

Contact Information Website: SFFCFoundation. org PFE Administration Email: pfe@sffcfoundation. org