Mentoring Program Overview
History
In 2001 staff at Lawrence Intermediate School, who were participating in StrengthBuilding Training & Coaching, identified the need for a mentoring program for their students. In response to this need, StrengthBuilding Partners began meeting with members of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. A partnership was created with a common goal of creating a mentoring program that would impact the students at Johnson Primary and Lawrence Intermediate Schools. SBP began searching for funding and in October 2002 was awarded a grant from the Governor's Division of Drug Policy through a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Title IV Program through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The SBP Mentoring Program was created, cementing the partnership between SBP, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Lawrence Intermediate and Johnson Primary Schools as they worked together to develop a successful mentoring program.
The emphasis of the program is on a supportive, caring experience, and the development of a trusting relationship over time. The child is given undivided attention, and the focus is on his/her thoughts, feelings and dreams.
Mission
The overall mission of the SBP Mentoring Program is to provide an innovative, school-based mentoring program through a unique collaboration between the schools and SBP, a community based non–profit organization. The program is specifically for 1st through 8th grade children with the greatest need. We are committed to evaluate its effectiveness through a rigorous evaluation process.
Goals and Outcomes
The goals of the program are:
- to provide general guidance;
- to increase participation in, and enhance the ability to benefit from, elementary and secondary education; and
- to encourage the setting of goals and planning for the future, including encouragement of graduation from secondary school and planning for postsecondary education or training.
The outcome of the program is: an increased number of youth graduating from high school and, moving on to college or other types of training that will prepare them to be productive and successful citizens.
Partners
The StrengthBuilding Partners Mentoring Program is currently in operation at Johnson Primary, Lawrence Intermediate and Hohokam Middle Schools. Working in partnership with the Sewa Uusim Systems of Care program, SBP has extended its mentoring program to include the Sewa Uusim youth.
Named by the Hohokam mentors and mentees, the program is known as SBP's "M&M (Mentor & Mentee) Connection." The Mentoring Program is always busy recruiting mentors from the community and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe for both programs. More caring adults are being sought for the Mentoring Program. The primary requirement is a desire to help a student grow in his or her self-esteem, confidence and feeling of self-worth.
Celebrating the Program
At the end of each school year, mentors, mentees, parents, school staff, tribal representatives and other community representatives come together for a Gala held in May. It has been an annual community event since 2003. In 2010, the event was presented by SBP as the "Festival of Stars Ice Cream Social" at Johnson Primary and Lawrence Intermediate schools and the "Festival of Stars Social" at Hohokam Middle School. Each school hosted their Social at their site. The events were held in honor of each mentor/mentee team.
Contact Marie Stickford at maries@strengthbuilding.org or by phone at 520 404-6275 for information on the application process or questions about StrengthBuilding Partners Mentoring Programs.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, click here to download an Application, or call Marie Stickford at 404-6275.
