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Students and Mentors gather
for a special presentation

YEP groups join
together for presentation

YEP students and Mentors
have weekly group discussions

Recognizing the needs of an underserved population, the Department developed the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) in 2001. The YEP Program provides one-on-one mentoring and life skills instruction for youths 16 – 20 years old who have been convicted of an offense in the adult system and placed on probation.

The Department relies heavily on local churches and other organizations in providing the mentors, group facilitators, and the meeting site. Mentors donate 2 hours, one time each week for a ten-week period. During these group meetings, the mentors and program participants discuss life skill topics presented in the text, “Talks My Father (Mother) Never Had With Me” by Dr. Harold Davis and Dr. Olliw Watts.

To qualify as a mentor, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant must be at least 18 years of age;
  • The applicant must complete and submit the standard volunteer application to the Community Outreach Coordinator;
  • The applicant is subject to a criminal records check and verification of references. Applicants with a criminal history will be considered after five years has passed since their last conviction, or release from probation/parole supervision;
  • The applicant must be willing to make a ten-week commitment.

If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor for this program, please complete the application form and submit it to:

Jill Wynne
Marion Superior Court Probation Dept.
3920 Madison Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227

Mentor Volunteer Application
(Adobe Acrobat Reader Required)

If you would like more information regarding this program, please contact, Jill Wynne at jwynne@indygov.org or Patti Cushingberry at pcushing@indygov.org.