chester’s mentoring initiative

Chester’s Mentoring Initiative proposes that we, Chester’s individuals, organizations and institutions, come together to collectively respond to the community’s needs with quality programming that provides access to positive health, education, and economic outcomes. Learn more here.

February 2024

Member Announcements:

  • The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) is partnering with Keystone First to hold free blood pressure screenings for Delaware County residents on February 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Yeadon Wellness Center, 125 Chester Ave., Yeadon, PA. No appointments are necessary. Screenings will be conducted on a walk-in, first-come first-serve basis.

  • On Sat, March 2 from 12-4pm, there will be a free resource fair and voter registration at 1112 E 7th St, Crum Lynne, PA.

  • All are encouraged to attend the next meeting of the Delco Area Resource Network (DARN) on Tues, March 12th, 2024 from 9:30am – 11:30am at Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU), 200 Yale Ave. Room 101, Morton, PA.

  • Please spread the word about the asthma awareness event, Let Us Breathe, taking place on Sat, March 23, 11am-2pm at the ACCESS Center, 701 Booth St in Chester. Enjoy free lunch, family-friendly activities and prizes as we all learn more about community health and wellness.

  • The PA primary is April 23. Voters must be registered at least 15 days prior. Contact Gerry Gonzalez at ggonzalez@cgrc.org with questions.

  • Many organizations are collaborating to build a block party for Chester families on May 8 from 4-8pm as part of The Foundation for Delaware County’s Delco Gives Day. Please email jeannine@chesteruplandyouthsoccer.org to learn more.

Our featured speaker was Dr. June Elcock-Messam, a pediatrician who specializes in cases involving child abuse and is a co-founder of Every Child Counts. She shared these important learnings from her work:

  • No matter what they’ve been through, children want to be children. See them as kids, not as victims of abuse. No one wants you to feel sorry for them or to cry over what happened in the past. They want help being stronger, and to be reassured that everything is going to be okay.

  • Having been abused is not an identity. There are layers, and we must listen and love and take in the whole picture. You can have one rotten layer in an onion and the rest is fine.

  • You can break the ice in a new relationship by asking children, “What makes you happy? What do you like to do?” No matter the abuse they have suffered or the challenges they live with, there is something that brings them comfort and helps to clear their minds. Help give them access and help them develop coping skills, an outlet, a break from trauma. “Would you rather color or read? Take photos or make jewelry?”

  • PTSD can crop up anytime. Even a color, a scent, the sight of a person who is the same size as the abuser can set off an emotional reaction. Help kids develop a tool to help them calm down and relax in those moments.

  • Patience and listening skills are perhaps the most important gifts you can give a child, especially one who has been hurt. S/he needs to feel safe to open up, and that takes time. Most will be concerned, “What do you want from me?” in a new relationship until trust is established. Listen and give them time to show that they matter, that they deserve to be seen and heard, and that you want to understand them.

  • It’s hard to focus when you’re hungry. Mentors can help meet that need. Kids who are struggling are often smart but trying to figure out how not to be hungry and homeless before they can study and shine.

  • Don’t just be a source of giving money or things. That can lead to kids just calling when they have a problem that needs fixing. Instead, empower kids to develop self-sufficiency while demonstrating to them that they matter. And when you give them things, frame it “Loving people donated this for you because you matter.”

  • Motivate the children you interact with. Sadly, kids (often, but not always, poor and black) are still being told that they can’t achieve at the highest levels and shouldn’t bother striving to reach big goals.

  • There is a book inspiringly entitled “Broken Crayons Still Color.” Victims of abuse can continue to perform and shine. Support them and show them a bright future awaits. Work to break generational cycles by modeling support, productivity, success and letting them know they can achieve.

  • Challenge successful young adults to go back to their communities and help another young person. Everyone can make a difference.

  • You can reach Dr. June through Every Child Counts at (267) 785-3683.

  • View past mentoring meeting notes at https://cuys.org/mentoring