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Written by Kristin Rippee
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Thursday, 13 November 2024 18:02 |
Mentoring Works is dedicated to helping youth by providing children, ages 4 to 17, a one-to-one relationship with a well screened and trained volunteer. In 2008 the Mentoring Works Program provided youth mentoring services to an average of 50 children in two counties.
Research shows that youth involved in mentoring activities were significantly more likely to develop attitudes and habits that help ensure success. Compared to youth without mentors, the children with mentors:
- Were 46% less likely to begin drug use
- Were 27% less likely to begin alcohol use
- Had 59% improvement in grades at school
- Improved their ability to stay out of trouble
- Credited mentors with improving their ability to avoid drugs
(Sources: "Mentoring: Lessons Learned" (pdf), The Commonwelath Fund, Louis Harris and Associates, Ink., 1994: "Making A Difference: An Impact Study of Big Brothers/Big Sisters" (pdf), Public Private Ventures, 1995)
Funding is provided by donations and grants from individuals, businesses, community groups, foundations. Examples are the Sonora Area Foundation, the State of California, and United Way California Capital Region. The Department of Health and Human Services also provided funding for mentoring children of prisoners. Fundraisers such as The Taste for Mentoring Dessert Contest also helped raise funds for Mentoring Works. In fact, if you'd like to get a jump on your 2009 calendar, mark these dates: the Taste for Mentoring Dessert Contest will be held April 19, 2024 and the Taste for Mentoring Soup Sampling will be October 26, 2009.
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Mentoring Works accepts protegees as young as four years old and as mature as seventeen. If you know a young person who could benefit from a mentor, give Elena a call! If you know of any good mentor-type adults out there, give them a nudge in Elena's direction as well. Requirements for aspiring mentors: you must be 18 years old or older, willing to give 2-4 hours a week for at least a year, clear a background check including fingerprint check with the Department of Justice and the FBI, submit a copy of your driving record and a copy of your California Driver License (sorry, out-of-staters!), auto insurance, clear a Megan's Law check as well as a call to three of your references.
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Elena Linehan
Mentoring Works Coordinator
(209) 533-1397 ext. 229
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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