School-Based Mentoring Program
Our Mission
To empower and advocate for youth by providing meaningful mentorship and support—helping them develop life skills, achieve personal goals, and grow into confident, capable leaders.
Every child benefits from having a consistent, supportive adult in their life. Unfortunately, not all students have someone firmly in their corner. Family Advocates’ School-Based Mentoring Program was created to fill that gap by connecting youth with caring adult mentors who offer encouragement, guidance, and stability during critical developmental years.
Family Advocates offers two school-based mentoring programs: Slicer Champions in La Porte Community Schools and Wolf Pack Leaders in Michigan City Area Schools. Through these programs, mentors meet one-on-one with students for approximately one hour each week during the school day. These consistent connections help students set goals, problem-solve challenges, and recognize and celebrate their successes.
Mentors receive training and ongoing support throughout the mentoring relationship, ensuring they feel confident and prepared to make a positive impact. Many mentors are able to walk alongside their mentee for multiple years—sometimes throughout their entire school career—creating a steady, trusted relationship that can truly change a child’s future. The time spent together opens doors to growth and learning for both mentor and mentee.
Why Mentoring Matters
Youth have unique and evolving needs that a caring adult can help address by offering a listening ear, advocating for resources, or introducing new experiences and perspectives. Research shows that 1 in 3 youth will grow up without a positive mentor, placing them at greater risk for legal involvement, substance use, academic disruption, and other unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Mentoring has been shown to reduce absenteeism, improve school engagement, and guide youth toward healthier decisions. It also exposes them to vocational pathways and educational opportunities that improve long-term career outcomes. For mentors, the impact is equally meaningful—offering the opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills, build confidence, expand professional networks, and experience the reward of helping a young person succeed.
Become a Mentor
If you are interested in becoming a Slicer Champion or Wolf Pack Leader, or would like more information about the School-Based Mentoring Program, please contact:
Amanda Lower
School-Based Mentoring Program Director
alower@lpcasa.com
219-362-3102 ext. 61027