Family Mentoring

Family mentoring is becoming  more relevant to many families. But how can a family mentor help?.

Families seem to be under increasing pressure. During the past 30 years families have been under the microscope both politically and culturally. Are parenting standards really declining? Is poor parenting responsible for the lack of a sense of community? There seems to be a lack of conclusive evidence to support any particular theory. There is no easy solution as these are complex problems.

Families are becoming increasingly isolated, both geographically, as extended families move away, and emotionally, as families experience break up. Families are a building block for our communities and our nations, so any dysfunction in this area often leads to social and economic instability.

Families are changing shape. Many families now have a single parent, generally the mother. There are an increasing number of step families. Some children are now looking after a disabled mother or father. This blurring of the boundaries makes it difficult to define a family.

Families are suffering from social exclusion through debt, long term unemployment, disablity, lack of parenting and social skills. These are problems that a family mentor can help with.

Family mentoring can help transform the lives of families who are suffering from the impact of social exclusion. This will empower families to achieve their full potential by creating opportunities and strengthening community ties. A family mentor can encourage community participation by helping families access further support services within their communities. A family mentor can give families hope.