National Mentoring Month

Today I just found out that January is National Mentoring Month. It was launched in 2002 and the campaign aims to unify and expand the mentoring movement, celebrate the power of relationships, and raise awareness around the importance of youth mentoring in the United States. And as I read about this month long celebration, I cannot help but be excited about the potential success this can bring to so many kids in this country.

Imagine a world where every child grows up with empowering adults to encourage them and provide them support every day. Imagine a world where every child has the guidance they need in order to be able to make good life choices and have a successful life.

When I found out that January is National Mentoring Month, I started looking that the statistics for at risk youth in this country and I have to admit it makes my heart sink. Nearly 75% of all US high school students have used alcohol, drugs and cigarettes and 34 million children have lived their life with a substance abuser. Five percent of high school kids admit to have driven a vehicle while impaired.

Every day in America:

· 4 children are killed by abuse or neglect

· 1 young person dies from an HIV infection

· 5 children or teens commit suicide

· 8 children are killed by firearms

· 181 children are arrested for violent crimes

· 383 children are arrested for drug abuse

· 2.383 children are reportedly abused or neglected

· 1,153 babies are born to teen mothers

· 2,411 babies are born into poverty

· 2,261 children drop out of high school

This is EVERY DAY!!

Mentoring Programs can help with all of these issues. A mentoring program lets a child know that there is a person for them who will care about what happens to them, and shows them that they matter. Mentoring Programs let children have a person in their life who will be there to help them meet those day to day challenges and provide guidance so they don’t end up being a statistic.

Research shows that mentors have powerful and positive effects on young people. These relationships connect young people to personal growth, social and economic opportunities. Young people with mentors are 55% less likely to skip school; 78% more likely to volunteer regularly and 130% more likely to be in a leadership position. A young person with a mentor is 46% less likely to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely than their peers to start drinking.

Mentors can also help prepare youth for college and careers by setting those goals and helping them achieve them. They can introduce young people to resources and organizations that will benefit them and prepare them with job seeking skills, interviewing skills and tips for keeping their jobs.

These are just a few of the things that mentors do for our youth, but it is a job that pays big dividends. Mentors are providing more than just friendship, they are providing hope.

So I challenge you today to think about mentoring. Take a look at the site www.mentor.org. They have a lot of information and maybe we all can do something that will help children live a more positive life.