Roots and Horizons is a community-supported, mentoring program serving children of incarcerated parents (ages 6 to 17) who live in the Rancho Cordova and Folsom area. Our mentoring program, based on a nationally successful model, Research has shown that mentors can play a powerful role in reducing drug abuse and youth violence while also increasing school attendance and a young person's self-confidence.  Roots and Horizons not only supports youth mentees by matching them with older, adult mentors but also offers ongoing field trips that bring together all participants for fun days of exploration, learning and laughter. These events have included a Sacramento Kings game, bowling, trips to Sacramento River Cats games and attending the Sacramento Ballet.

All participants in the program commit to one year of weekly meetings and are carefully matched with a mentee according to their mutual interests and personalities. Mentors engage children in a variety of activities such as bike riding, working on homework, going to the movies or shooting hoops. Mentors support each child’s strengths and empower them to discover their own talents, set their own goals and reach their own dreams.

Mentoring is a leading solution that addresses the challenges facing today’s youth. It is a proactive approach that reinforces the emotional, social and physical well-being of a young person. Mentoring improves self-confidence, promotes school participation and improves academic performance, as well as decreasing anxiety, depression and aggressive or avoidant behavior.

A mentor can make such a difference in a child’s life by mentoring for one hour a week. The need for adult guidance for our future generations is overwhelming, and with a little bit of a mentor’s time and their experience, wisdom and guidance, a difference can be made.

Why Roots and Horizons Works

Currently, there are over 2.2 million children in the United States with a parent in a State or Federal prison. These youth could benefit from the support and guidance that a mentor could provide. 58% of those children are under the age of 10 and one in five was present at the time of the arrest. Children of incarcerated parents are seven times more likely to become involved in the juvenile and adult criminal justice system than their peers.
 
Mentoring is a leading solution that addresses the challenges facing today’s youth. A leading national study found that after a year of mentoring, youth were:

• 46% less likely to use drugs
• 27% less likely to start using alcohol
• 52% less likely to skip school
• 33% less likely to use violence to solve a problem

 
A mentor can make such a difference in a child’s life by mentoring for one hour a week. The need for adult guidance for our future generations is overwhelming, and with a little bit of a mentor’s time and their experience, wisdom and guidance, a difference can be made.

Mentor Support
Roots and Horizons was formed around proven best practices for mentoring programs. All mentors complete a training to best prepare them for their mentoring adventure. We match mentors and mentees based on personality and compatibility and our staff offers weekly support and updates to monitor the success of each match. 

Each mentor has a Match Supporter who helps to provide ideas, suggestions and guidance throughout the mentoring friendship Mentors receive “The Scoop,” the program’s month newsletter filled with ideas for fun activities, mentoring facts and tips and tricks from past and current mentors

• A copy of “Out and About,” our activity book filled with mentoring activity ideas is given to each mentor in the program
• Free tickets are offered to mentors to local businesses, theaters and entertainment arenas
• Mentors can attend quarterly trainings to share and learn from everyone's experiences
• Mentors receive tax deductions for certain mentoring activities

Get Involved with Roots and Horizons!