Deschutes County Sheriff’s seeks volunteers for mentorship program

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is seeking volunteers for its Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth program, also known as "COPY". Copy mentors children who have an incarcerated parent or guardian. The initiative has operated for more than 20 years.

With a model similar to Big Brothers Big Sisters, the program pairs volunteers with local youth with similar interests. It aims to provide stability and a dependable adult influence. Mentors typically spend three to four hours a week mentoring a child.

Bob Moore serves as the COPY project coordinator. Moore spoke about how the program provides steady guidance to children and teens.

“It's also very destabilizing to have a lot of changes in kids lives,” Moore said. “And so this is a great time of year with fall starting getting into a school routine, also, having your regular school teacher and it's a good time to be starting with a mentoring program where you have that consistent adult with that kid.”

An orientation session for prospective mentors is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26. The session lasts approximately 3 hours, is free of charge and requires no initial commitment.

Prospective volunteers can request details by calling 541-388-6651 or emailing COPY@deschutes.org. Additional information is available on the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office website at www.sheriff.deschutes.org/copy.