Human Resource Coalition: Partners for Youth program supports Craig Middle School students
Human Resource Coalition
“It has helped me with my school work. I have also really enjoyed getting to talk to and hang out with my mentor. I feel like I have another friend in school.”
This quote comes from a student who was in the Partners for Youth School-Based Mentoring program last school year. Our School-Based Mentoring Program places part-time paid mentors in local schools to support students socially, emotionally and academically.
We’ve been implementing this program in Routt County for over 20 years, and after conversations with community partners and youth in Craig, we are thrilled to bring the program to Craig Middle School this year.
Our School-Based Mentoring Program places a paid mentor in the school 20-25 hours per week. The mentor works with 10-12 students (“target students”) for the duration of the school year, and meets with each target student for a minimum of one hour, one-on-one, each week to provide social, emotional and academic support.
The mentor also provides in-school or after-school programming according to the school’s needs. This can look like a lunch group, a homework club, or an activity based club (think art or music), and is available to any student in the school.
Partners for Youth recruits, screens and trains School-Based Mentors, and we provide the program to schools for free. Our program follows the highest standards for mentoring programs, and has been shown to prevent substance abuse, alleviate depressive symptoms, serve as a connection to additional resources, and increase school commitment.
Teachers and parents tell us that the program helps their students with academics and behavior, and counselors appreciate another adult in the school for students to talk with. Most importantly, participating students share that the program has helped them, as you read in the quote in the beginning of this article.
We are really enjoying our work with the students and staff at Craig Middle School, and we look forward to many more years of the School-Based Mentoring Program in Craig. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Lindsay Kohler at lindsay@partnersyouth.org with questions about this program, or visit our website at PartnersYouth.org.
Lindsay Kohler is the executive director for Partners for Youth.
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