A Big Brother/Big Sister Child Mentoring program is being started by the Eastern Oklahoma State College Criminal Justice Club in cooperation with the Latimer County Department of Human Services. The program has already garnered lots of interest on the Wilburton campus. More than 12 potential participants have completed the background check requirements with at least as many more in the process.

Denice Daniels, DHS Child Welfare Supervisor along with Patsy Hall, a Child Welfare Specialist II, were on campus this week to visit with Eastern’s student participants of the program. More than 20 students  interested in the program attended. While at the seminar, students learned how to complete the application process which includes several background checks, signing a confidentiality statement and going through an interview. The mentors will also be taught about all of the available DHS resources for the children.

“We’re really excited about all of this,” said Daniels. “We have more than 50 kids lined up for this program in Latimer County alone and there is a real need for this in surrounding areas including Pittsburg County.”

Participating mentors will be involved with Latimer county children or teenagers who are in foster homes or considered “at risk” as defined by the local DHS Child Welfare Unit. The types of activities planned for these children include attending sporting events, tours of Eastern Oklahoma State College, church events, wild life viewing and fishing trips as well as cookouts at Robbers Cave State Park. These activities and others will allow the mentor to provide a positive influence and become a role model for the children by example.

This Criminal Justice Club Mentoring Program was the brainchild of club members Kenneth Houston, Shane Sears and Charlie Williams. Blaine Villines, Eastern Criminal Justice Instructor, is the club sponsor.

Related Photo Caption:

Denice Daniels, Latimer County DHS Child Welfare Supervisor, back left, and Patsy Hall, DHS Child Welfare Specialist II, back right, work with students to complete the application process for the new Big Brother/Big Sister Mentoring program sponsored by the Eastern Oklahoma State College Criminal Justice Club. Students joining the program are from front left: Scott Stephens from Clayton; Crystal Martin, Wilburton and Selita Todd, Wilburton. Back middle includes Shane Sears from Stigler.

Related Photo Caption:

Denice Daniels, Latimer County DHS Child Welfare Supervisor, back left, and Patsy Hall, DHS Child Welfare Specialist II, works with students to complete the application process for the new Big Brother/Big Sister Mentoring program sponsored by the Eastern Oklahoma State College Criminal Justice Club. Students joining the program are from front left: Hal Hamel from McAlester, Cassy Drake, Wilburton and Matt Kasbaum from Stigler. Back middle right and right include Angel Sears and Shane Sears from Stigler.