Julie's background working with children's groups includes her year and a half as a volunteer mentor with OMNI Youth Services' Youth Mentor Program (YMP) in Buffalo Grove, IL.
Youth Mentor Program (YMP): Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings younger people together with caring adults who offer guidance through role modeling, support and encouragement aimed at developing competencies and character in the youth. The Youth Mentor Program assigns an adult volunteer to work one-on-one with a youth between the ages of 10-17. The Youth Mentor Program follows a monthly curriculum that is incorporated into all sessions. Monthly topics include: violence and aggression, community skills, self esteem, alcohol awareness, and stress and coping skills.
She also was a grief support volunteer for three (3) years at The Chicago Children’s Memorial Hospital’s Heartlight program, a bereavement support center for children and their families. Julie worked with children ages 3 to 18 who had experienced the death of a parent.
Past Presentations and Workshops:
~Speaker at OMNI Youth Services Volunteer Appreciation Dinner; Wheeling, IL
~Program creator and facilitator of “Communication through Improvisation”;
DC Virgo Middle School; Wilmington, NC
~Laughter Yoga and "God is in the Giggle" program for McHenry County Center for
Religious Science; Cary, IL
