Thank You!

Plants may be seedlings,

or taller, bent or misshapen,

you tend and nurture them.

You see them bloom...

you are a mentor.

Thank you mentors for coming to the Annual Mentor Banquet! We had a wonderful time eating dinner and sharing stories with each other. We heard from Karla's previous intern Ann Packard. She presented a wonderful motivational speech on the impact mentors make. You really make a difference in the lives of the participants. We also heard from the BYU Young Ambassadors. Their gorgeous song, "You'll Never Walk Alone" brought goose bumps to the audience. We are glad so many could make it to the banquet. We are so grateful for the service you do! Keep up the good work! We will see you next year!

Speaker Ann Packard

BYU Young Ambassadors

Mentor of the Year

Mentor Banquet

Mentors:
Bring a friend and join us at the annual Mentor Banquet!

Date: February 8, 2011
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Church @ 100 East 200 South Provo

WHY BE A MENTOR?

There are many youth between the ages of 6 and 18 that are identified as “at-risk youth” by school counselors or county social workers. Many of these at-risk youth come from unstable home environments.  County social workers have recognized these youth as needing an adult mentor that can provide some stability in their lives. Adult volunteers are recruited and trained by the team members from Safety Net Mentor Program, then matched with at-risk youth.
      

 “Just recently, my mentee, Mariah, asked me if I knew why she liked to come to my house,” said Safety Net Mentor, Nicole Workman. “I said no," and she replied, ‘It's because I like you.’  I know it sounds simple and like nothing you would expect to feel good from, but through all the turmoil and moving and chaos, Mariah has found something she likes and someone she is comfortable around.  I feel that is the whole purpose of a Mentor Program. She plays a parental role in the home and when she is with me, we cook together, play and do fun activities.  She helps me work sometimes and I hope that she sees that work ethic is a great thing to have.”    
        

For these youth, mentors become the dependable, trusted adult in their lives; someone they can learn from and go to for advice.  A mentor is a friend, a guide—a role model for healthy relationships.  Many
mentors provide the only opportunity for these youth to be a child.
       

A 1998 study conducted by Grossman and Tierney showed that adult interaction was a critical factor for fostering positive outcomes for at-risk youth.  Communities that provide the resource of caring adults can make a difference in many children’s lives.  Utah County has been able to tap into their resource of college students.  More than 60 percent of adult volunteer mentors are students from Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University.
        

To become a volunteer, one must be a stable adult, over 21 years old, and make a minimum one hour per week commitment for one year.  Activities can range from a planned activity, to riding bikes or baking cookies in your home.
       

Safety Net Mentor Program was developed more than 11 years ago as a prevention measure for at-risk youth.  The program was adopted and is funded by the State of Utah Division of Child and Family Services.
       

If you would like more information, please contact Karla Sedillo, 801-224-7842, or visit Safety Net Mentor Program at www.safetynetmentor.org.      

January - National Mentoring Month

10 THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY

1. Become a mentor in your community.
2. Learn more about mentoring.
3. Partner with a mentoring organization.
4. Tell 5 friends about National Mentoring Month.
5. Think about the mentors in your life and post a tribute to them online.
6. Read the latest research and find resources on mentoring.
7. Serve your community on MLK Day of Service by deciding to become a mentor.
8. Make a donation to a mentoring organization in your community.
9. Go to YouTube on Thank Your Mentor Day™ (January 25) and make the National Mentoring Month videos the most popular of the day.
10. Explore ways to help children succeed academically through mentoring.

Learn more about mentoring by visiting:

http://www.mentoring.org/

http://www.nationalmentoringmonth.org/

The Life of a Child

How important is the life of a child? What would it mean to change a certain child’s distorted view on life? What effect could a positive role model have on an innocent mind of one so small? The answers to these questions are all the same, PRICELESS.

We worry about what a child will become when they grow up, but we forget that they are someone today. YOU could become a light in the life of a child or the life of a teen when all they see is lost hope. Safety Net Mentor Program partners adult mentors with at risk children from unstable environments or foster teens in order to build a friendship, a bond, and a lasting relationship. This is a service opportunity where volunteering to become a mentor an hour a week could benefit you for a lifetime to come as well as a child at-risk.

This program currently supervises over 175 mentor-mentee matches in the community. These include referrals under case management with the Division of Child and Family Services, Wasatch Mental Health, Family Support and Treatment Services, Workforce Services, private providers, and also the Provo and Nebo School Districts. Youth qualifying for the program range in age from 6 years to 18 years of age.

We are in need of more Mentor’s in Utah County, who are willing to become an example and confidante to someone in need. It is simple to get involved and it will be worth every second of your time. Here are some major pluses:

* Earn volunteer hours
* Have a good reference source for jobs and graduate schools
* Receive ongoing training
* Become a friend, guide, teacher, and role model
* Make a difference in the life of another

Contact Safety Net Mentor Program today. 801-224-7842