January is National Mentoring Month: How can I get involved?

A mentor is anyone who can help someone else learn a new skill, reach a desired goal, think a problem through or just figure out what life is all about. You don't have to be a rocket scientist, a theologian or a subject matter expert. You just need to be a person that cares and is willing to help someone else.

There are mentors in academics, corporate settings, athletics and religious environments. The particular type of mentor we are talking about here is a child's mentor. If you are the type of person that is willing and able to help a child

• Plan a project for school;
• Set goals and start taking steps to realize them;
• Make healthy choices about day-to-day life, from food to exercise and beyond; and
• Think through a problem at home or school.

Then you can be a child's mentor.

If you;

• Have respect for young people,
• See solutions to problems,
• Can be an active listener,
• Can show empathy and compassion,
• Are flexible and open,

then you have the basic skills necessary to assume the different roles of a Mentor.

Lastly, but most importantly, to be a Mentor you have to have a sincere desire to be involved in the life of a young person.

There are several different ways you can find mentoring opportunities in your community. The first places you might want to check are;

• Local schools, they often have mentoring programs set up and can help you find a child in need
• Local churches, faith based organizations are a wonderful place to find children who could benefit from some of your time
• Local community organizations. Your community organizations and government may have resource programs for at risk children. They can always use volunteers.
• On the internet; websites like National Mentoring Month or The National Mentoring partnership are great resources.

The most recent research shows that well done mentoring holds great opportunity for a child. Mentoring a youth can help these young people succeed in life. There is strong evidence that programs that provide one-on-one mentoring partnerships between an adult and a youth can succeed in reducing academic failure, delinquency and substance abuse. This type of program also will help to promote self esteem, social skills and anger management. A well directed partnership may also provide knowledge of career opportunities for the young person that otherwise may have eluded them.

In order to provide each child that wants a Mentor to have a Mentor, we have to work together. All of us have had someone in our lives that we could talk to. Someone that could act as a sounding board. Someone that we could rely on to give us good, solid advise when we needed it. We all at times needed someone to look out for us, to guide us even possibly to protect us. You can be that person now.

Here's how:

• Become a Mentor—take the first step and learn more about the benefits of mentoring and how to get started.
• Learn How to be a Better Mentor—or find a program in your neighborhood.
• Hear First-hand about What it Takes—to mentor and why mentoring is a profound experience for both mentors and mentees.
• Be an Advocate for Kids—learn about the legislative issues that are advancing the mentoring movement. Join an Advocacy Network.