Youth First celebrates mentoring month, introduces new program
By:
Monika Spaulding, Digital Editor
Sometimes one kind word, one listening ear, one friendly smile can change someone’s life.
That’s the idea behind the YMCA’s newly-formed middle school mentoring program. With January being National Mentoring Month, they thought now was a perfect time to roll it out.
The YMCA has a reputation for offering many services for youth in the community and this new program fits within their mission.
Youth First Director Chelsey Miller said they are excited about the program and what it will mean to youth in the community. Mentors will meet one day a week, with one child, during their lunch hour.
“We are starting the pilot program at Salem Middle School this semester,” she said. “We will start the program at East Washington Middle School next school year.”
As of now, the program has seven mentors, three males and four females. Miller will work with SMS school counselor Cassie McIntire. She will help match at-risk students with volunteers who share similar interests and availability.
“Right now, we have asked our mentors for a semester commitment at 30 minutes a week,” said Miller. “We want to create a secure, trusted relationship with an adult. This time will allow for one-on-one time and conversation.”
At risk students may include those coming from low income families, single parent homes and students being raised by grandparents.
All parents will have to sign permission slips for students to participate. There will be no out-of-school contact between the students and their mentor.
Miller said they are hoping the school program will help avoid transportation hindrances often found with other mentoring programs.
“We want to make it accessible to everyone,” she said.
Youth First has partnered with the National Mentoring Resources Center who will provide training for Miller, who in turn will be train the mentors. They also will help with evaluations of participants and the program to make sure it is effective and working.
Miller said she learned about the mentoring organization at the Indiana Youth Institute conference and applied to partner with them. She was thrilled to learn YF had been selected.
“The hardest part now will be getting the mentors,” she said, adding that is another reason they opted for the lunch mentoring program. “Every child needs a mentor in their life, no matter what their circumstances are. We are just asking for 30 minutes a week.”
She is hoping YMCA corporate sponsors can encourage employees to spend their lunch hour once a week with a student who needs a mentor.
Mentors will be needed for the 2018-2019 school year at SMS and EWMS beginning in August. Anyone who is interested may contact Miller at 812-883-9622.
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