In 2002, MENTOR and The Harvard T.H. School of Public Health worked together to create this celebratory month. The month is meant to encourage and strengthen the importance of mentorship within the country. National Mentor Month has gained strong support from President Joe Biden and members of Congress. Other supporters include Maya Angelou, Clint Eastwood, Quincy Jones, Senator Colin Powell, etc.

We celebrate different days that are influential in National Mentoring Month.

Organizations involved with National Mentoring Month will use this day to promote mentoring opportunities and encourage others to become mentors. The day also showcases the benefits of mentoring and the mentor/mentee relationship.

On International Mentoring Day, we celebrate the global impact mentoring has on the world. It is celebrated on Muhammad Ali's birthday, who was a worldwide mentor for his friends, family, and fans. We continue to learn of the positive impact of mentoring through Ali's legacy, even years after his passing.

On Monday, January 20, we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement. He believed in nonviolent resistance as well as nonviolent civil disobedience. He was one of the leaders of the March on Washington in 1963. There he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

...“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed ‘we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.’”...

Many people use this day off from work as a day of service, to honor Dr. King’s memory. MLK Day of Service is meant to encourage and empower Americans to volunteer to improve their community.

Every year, MENTOR hosts the National Mentoring Summit in Washington, D.C. It is open to all mentoring practitioners, researchers, philanthropists, etc., who want to unite under the goal of providing change throughout the youth of today. It is an opportunity to learn from one another, form new connections and network, find new avenues to explore and strengthen youth mentoring,

Mentoring offers support that young people need and lets them know they are not alone in this world, promoting healthy emotional development. As a result, youth who are mentored are less likely to use drugs or engage in acts of violence and more likely to succeed in school. Mentoring also helps youth navigate challenges they may be facing at home or in school. In addition, it closes the opportunity gap by connecting disadvantaged youth with resources and possibilities they may not have been aware of.

A 2023 study yielded the following:

• [Men­tored] youth who expe­ri­enced adver­si­ty while grow­ing up were more than twice as like­ly to vol­un­teer in their com­mu­ni­ty and hold a lead­er­ship posi­tion in a club or sports team.
• 74% of those who had a mean­ing­ful men­tor say that per­son con­tributed sig­nif­i­cant­ly to their lat­er suc­cess in life.
• 85% of young peo­ple with a men­tor say this key rela­tion­ship has helped them with issues relat­ed to school and their education.
• 58% per­cent of young peo­ple say their men­tor has sup­port­ed their men­tal health.
• 60% of those under 40 years old are still draw­ing advice from their child­hood mentors.

• Increased high school graduation rates
• Lower high school dropout rates
• Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices
• Better attitude about school
• Higher college enrollment rates and higher educational aspirations
• Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence
• Improved behavior, both at home and at school
• Stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers
• Improved interpersonal skills
• Decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use

• Increased self-esteem
• A sense of accomplishment
• Creation of networks of volunteers
• Insight into childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood
• Increased patience and improved supervisory skills

In a typical mentoring relationship, the mentor is the guide for the mentee. The mentor is usually full of knowledge and wisdom and nurtures the growth of their mentee. Effective mentoring, however, usually relies on what are known as the Four C's: Counsel, Correction, Connection, and Champion.

The first C, Counsel, represents how mentors guide the way for their mentees. Mentors serve as trusted advisors to help mentees navigate both personal and professional growth. Effective counseling isn't about giving the right answers; it's also about asking the right questions to empower mentees to make informed decisions.

The second C, Correction, refers to constructive criticism. Constructive criticism is tough to perfect, but it is a balance between selecting areas of improvement while also nurturing the potential of a mentee. Effective mentors will listen to their mentees' perspectives and will offer open dialogue to ensure a mutual understanding and respect.

The third C, Connection, refers to the significance of a trusting relationship between a mentor and a mentee. Mentors should actively listen to their mentee to understand their goals and aspirations. Demonstrating empathy is crucial to establishing a trusting mentorship; it shows a genuine care for the mentee's well-being and their long-term development.

The final C, Champion, refers to the active advocacy for their mentee's success. Mentors actively use their influence, networks, and resources, to ultimately guide their mentee towards success. Championing for a mentee, in the end, ensures the transformative position a mentor has on their mentee.

Mentoring is also important in the workplace. New employees, whether experienced or not, can benefit from having a mentor. These are some specific examples of how mentoring in the workplace is useful:

Bridging the skill gap

New employees may feel unequipped to meet newer demands in their field. Offers opportunities for growth.

Overcoming employee isolation

Newer employees find it hard to build relationships, especially in companies where employees work remotely. Having a relationship with an established employee can hel a new employee build connections so as not to feel isolated.

Building trust

Most employees trust their co-workers ahead of bosses and CEOs. Mentorship can create a positive and collaborative dynamic.

1. Preventive Influence: Mentoring provides young people with positive role models and supportive relationships, which can help them develop healthy behaviors and decision-making skills. This support can reduce the likelihood of substance use.

2. Risk Reduction: Mentors can help identify and address risk factors associated with substance abuse, such as peer pressure, family issues, and academic challenges. By addressing these risks early, mentoring can prevent the initiation of substance use

3. Supportive Relationships: Having a caring and supportive adult in their lives can help youth build resilience against the pressures to use substances. Natural mentoring relationships, such as those with teachers, coaches, or community leaders, have shown significant positive effects

4. Intervention and Recovery: For youth already involved in substance use, mentoring can be part of a broader intervention strategy. Mentors can provide emotional support, guidance, and resources to help young people in their recovery process

Although we may be well into our adulthood, we are all still students. It is incredibly important to continue to educate ourselves on mentoring and research opportunities for any mentor/mentee relationships.

Mentors hold special places in anyone's life. If you had a mentor in your life, whether a teacher, counselor, coach, etc., take the time to reach out to them and thank them for all they did.

At some point, everyone has had a mentor/mentee experience. Share your experience via social media or word of mouth. Talk about how much impact your mentoring experience has had on you.

The Peer Leadership Program provides students with an opportunity to work with fellow peers or lower classmen as mentors; providing support in social situations, and discussing moral and ethical issues. The goal of the Peer Leadership program is to provide a platform for these students to model and cultivate positive character traits. Peer Leaders may also be called upon to serve in other leadership capacities at different events in school and often provide a prevention lesson (bullying, drugs/alcohol) to younger grades.

This workshop will teach students to become Peer Leaders in their schools. The session will provide practical strategies and tools that students can immediately incorporate in their classrooms and school buildings.

Research shows that Peer Leaders have a great ability to influence peers and younger students, including, their decisions, their behaviors and their perceptions.

For more information on the Bucks IU Peer Leadership Program, contact, Ron Rolon, rrolon@bucksiu.org

The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a mandated program for all schools funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It acts as a short-term problem-solving program to help students who may just need a little extra support throughout their school careers.

SAP counselors are trained to provide one-hour problem-solving sessions with students who are in need. They are there as an extra resource who can also stand as mentors for their respective students. If you feel that you or your child would benefit from SAP, call your respective school to inquire.

• St. Luke's Penn Foundation- Offers mental health [Peer-to-Peer programs] and drug & alcohol [Camp Crossroads] support (https://www.pennfoundation.org/)
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County- Provides volunteer and professional mentoring experiences (https://bbbsbc.org/)
• Tabor Services, Inc.- Offers a mentoring program for children preparing to leave the child welfare system (https://taborservicesinc.org/programs/mentoring)
• Variety- The Children's Center of Delaware Valley- Seeks to enrich the lives of children with physical and intellectual disabilities through programs that nurture their independence and confidence (https://varietyphila.org/programs/)
• Malvern Treatment Centers- Offers both inpatient and outpatient treatment centers; provides detoxification and residential treatment plus individual and group counseling. (https://www.malverntreatment.com/programs/)
• Pyramid Healthcare- Offers personalized withdrawal management and trauma-informed care for men and women (https://www.pyramid-healthcare.com/)

Melissa Groden

4459 W Swamp Road

Doylestown, PA 18902

email: mgroden@councilsepa.org

phone: (215) 345-6644