Youth Friends emphasizing ‘Mentoring month’
Special to the Gazette
Friday, January 23, 2009
January is Mentoring Month in Kansas, by order of a proclamation signed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
More than 1,500 students have taken advantage of the YouthFriends mentoring program started more than two years ago in the Emporia public schools.
Since October 2006, 213 YouthFriends volunteers have been placed with more than 1,500 students and have dedicated more than 4,000 hours of mentoring time, according to Margi Grimwood, Safe and Drug-Free Schools coordinator.
Research has shown that mentoring has a significant impact on youth development, including a decrease in illegal substance abuse, truancy and violent acts, as well as an increase in grades, self-esteem and college enrollment, Grimwood said.
Over the past 10 years, more than 80 school districts in Kansas have partnered with YouthFriends Kansas to implement and manage school-based mentoring programs. By connecting students with caring adult volunteers in schools, YouthFriends promotes success, encourages healthy behaviors and builds stronger communities. YouthFriends helps school districts achieve their strategic objectives by providing comprehensive tools, training, technology and support to sustain successful school-based mentoring efforts that meet or exceed national best practice standards. YouthFriends assist districts in providing additional connections for business partnerships and promotes community involvement.
YouthFriends connects volunteers with students, grades K-12 in schools. YouthFriends spend about 30 minutes to an hour each week together having lunch, chatting, doing homework, playing games or enjoying hobbies. The program currently has 88 volunteers meeting with 494 students, Grimwood said.
The YouthFriends program still needs volunteers. For more information about becoming involved with YouthFriends, call Margi Grimwood or Heather Wagner at 341-2450 or visit the YouthFriends website at www.youthfriends.org.
ciosafeteam (anonymous) says...
Youth Friends is a great program for those adults with the ability and passion to commit to mentoring. So often, our challenge is for parents, families and the community to find a place to start that allows them to step in one toe at a time.
The family is a critical component to any child’s life. When it comes to education, no greater statistic stands truer today than the achievement gap between students whose parents are involved in their education process and those who do not have that support. Personal responsibility, safety and education are key elements to bringing up the next generation.
After 10 years of experience leading a volunteer program in my children’s elementary and middle schools, Schools And Families Engaged (the S.A.F.E. TEAM on Campus) was launched in 2008 to meet the needs of schools and families. Many of the school's families do not know where to begin in school. Many parents today never had an example of their parents supporting the school let alone they may not have enjoyed their personal schooling experience. Why would they have a desire to serve? You only know what you have experienced.
Make time to check out our site www.thesafeteam.com . On the About SAFE page, click on the 40 Developmental Assets link. This will tie in all the benefits of families and communities supporting their students both in school and out of school.
January 26, 2009 at 6:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )