- "AT RISK" YOUTH - A number of studies have focused on the factors in a child's life that are predictors of delinquent behavior. The youngster's personal characteristics, his social status and the quality of his home and community are behavioral and environmental predictors of his susceptiblity to juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and school failure. External assets such as family support, parental standards, and church involvement and internal assets such as achievement motivation, regard for helping people, and planning skills are motivational factors that are also predictive of behavior. The focus of the PATHWAYS DANBURY MENTORING PROJECT is on "at risk" youth in Greater Danbury that possess considerably more external and internal assets than do the highest risk youth in our community but who also possess more behavioral and environmental predictors of negative behavior than minimum risk youth. The PATHWAYS DANBURY mentees will be those young men who require an outside catalyst for change - Christ centered mentoring - and who demonstrate significant capacity for change. The will have the potential to "trust the Lord and do good" (Psalm 37:3)
- MENTORING - Mentoring has been defined by Paul Stanley in his book, "Connecting", as "a relational experience in which one personl empowers another by sharing God given resources." We have chosen mentoring to be the primary vehicle for reaching out to "at risk" youth in Danbury for two reasons. First of all, one to one mentoring works and has proven to be most effective in improving the lives of young people. Secondly, involvement of Christian men from New Hope and Walnut Hill churches as mentors will purposely unite them in Christ and promote racial reconciliation in Greater Danbury as they reach out in love to "at risk" youth. PATHWAYS mentors are to be wise and trusted friends, disciplers and positive role models for their mentees.