Bernards PEC

Mentor Program

Bernards PEC provides students in Bernards Township the opportunity to perform community service by assisting children with all kinds of disabilities through a variety of programs and activities. PEC Mentor Administrators are able to sign off on community service efforts, including mandatory Ridge High School volunteer hours. Mentoring is extremely rewarding and a mutually beneficial experience for Mentors and Mentees. Please read on to find out more!

  •  Mentoring refers to the supportive relationship between a mentor (you) and a mentee (a special needs child).

     This important relationship is characterized by constructive role-modeling, encouragement, and positive interaction.

  •  PEC supports kids from pre-k through high school

     PEC supports kids with many disabilities ranging from speech delays and ADHD to Autism and Down Syndrome

     Mentors help the students who need extra support in extracurricular activities

  •  1:1 Mentoring

     Mentoring at a PEC Event

     Creating a Program

     Helping at Fundraiser

  •  Are you a compassionate, empathetic person?

     Do you have a passion for helping others?

     Do you know neighbors/ friends with special needs?

1:1 Mentoring Program

Individual mentoring allows mentors the opportunity to work with the same child over a period of time. We do our best to match up children having special needs with trained mentors based on factors like interests, age, schedules and requests by PEC parents and mentors. The mentor will spend time with the child on as arranged by both parents (this may be once a week or an hour, biweekly, etc). The PEC parent remains on the premises and provides the mentor with additional training specific to their child. The PEC wants this experience to be enjoyable and successful for both mentor and mentee. The PEC parent takes full responsibility for the supervision of both children during this time. Mentors may also play with typical siblings while the special needs child has therapy. Parents of the mentor are welcome to call the PEC parent to meet with the family and/or accompany your child to their home initially to feel comfortable with the agreement.

Recreational Program Mentors

Recreational programs are activities including (but not limited to) PEC Fitness Class, FC Berna Soccer and PEC Bollywood Movement Class, that run for a specific time period, usually 6-8 weeks. Mentoring for these programs is on an as-needed basis, depending on how many PEC children and teens are enrolled in these programs, and requires a commitment of once a week during that time the programs runs. Mentors may be assigned to a student or may assist coaches to work with a small group of children. Recreational programs are good options for mentors who want to be involved in a particular activity. Adult supervision by trained coaches/instructors, along with parents of PEC participants is always provided at our programs.

Exceptional Mentor Scholarship

The Bernards PEC is honored to offer a $1,000 scholarship through the Bernards PEC Exceptional Mentor Scholarship which recognizes a Ridge High School senior who has demonstrated exemplary service as a PEC mentor. Our PEC Mentor program supports a key goal to “help children with disabilities develop friendships and become integrated into the community”. This scholarship was established in 2017 with donations designated in the memory of Gage Dobson, who served as an exceptional mentor in our PEC soccer program.

Become a Mentor

At our Mentor Training session you will learn directly from Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs):

  • how to engage children with special needs

  • how to help a child with special needs learn new skills

  • how to help a child with special needs make new friends

Mentors will be trained while actually interacting with special needs children.

The Bernards PEC offers two training sessions per year, to new and current mentors, to learn tips and techniques for mentoring special needs children.

Request a Mentor

Our PEC Mentor program is available to students in the Bernards Township school district. Mentors can go to your home for a play date, be a mother's helper, a homework buddy or a shadow so that your child can participate in a recreational or community event. A parent/guardian of the special needs child must always be on site to supervise and further train the assigned mentor.  

Steps to getting a mentor for your child:

  1. Please complete this Mentor Request Form to initiate the process of finding a mentor for your child.

  2. You will receive a response with a form to fill out about your child so we can match the mentee to an appropriate mentor.

  3. After we receive your form, you will be contacted as soon as potential mentor matches are found.

  4. You will then contact the mentor (or mentor’s parent) directly.

  5. Once you have selected a mentor, you must follow up by sending a confirmation email back to pecmentors@gmail.com with the name of the chosen mentor.

*** This final step is a critical and required part in order for us to sign documents confirming a mentor’s community services hours.