National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month!

While COVID-19 may be keeping us socially distant, the need for human connection is as great as ever. Mentors around the world are rising to the challenges of the pandemic to make sure young people are still receiving the critical guidance they need to thrive. Now more than ever it is important to invest in relationships that raise our community members up.

What is National Mentoring Month?

National Mentoring Month was founded in 2002 by Harvard School of Public Health and the organization MENTOR to celebrate those who invest their time by mentoring others in their community.

“There is a powerful mentoring effect demonstrated by research and the experiences of young people who are connected to a mentor in real life. Mentoring is linked to improved academic, social and economic prospects for young people, and that ultimately strengthens our community.” says the Harvard School of Public Health.

Mentorship programs have a tremendous impact on a young person’s life, and mentorship is a central part of many programs United Way of the Midlands supports. 3,500 youth had active mentoring relationships last year through United Way of the Midland’s funded programs.

Organizations shared that 86% of youth experienced a behavior change by being a part of a mentorship program. These changes include fewer disciplinary reports, improved academics and attendance, motivation to attend college, stronger relationships, and improved self-esteem.

Crucial in a Crisis

These mentorship programs became crucial during the initial phases of COVID-19 as many youth with risk factors lost their typical access to support. These programs were able to reach these students and connect them with the resources they needed early on on the pandemic.

Mentor programs are crucial because they help address early warning signs of major issues students face like absenteeism and recurring behavior issues, says Mentor.

Students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class.
Young adults who face an opportunity gap but have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor.

Get Involved

Mentoring is a vital tool in helping young people get the support they need to succeed. Learn more about how you can help the young people in our community today.

Visit Mentor Nebraska to learn more information about how to become a mentor:

www.mentornebraska.org/get-involved/become-a-mentor/

Learn more about how National Mentoring Month at:

www.mentoring.org/campaigns/national-mentoring-month/

United Way donors fund more than 100 local nonprofit programs that provide basic needs, education and financial services, forming a circle of support for people in need.

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Donate today and provide hope for your neighbors who are struggling right now. A gift to United Way supports more than 100 nonprofit programs, providing housing and utility assistance, access to health and mental health care, food, education support, job training and so much more.

About the Author Brayton is the Manager of Communications at United Way of the Midlands. She spends most of her days writing press releases, letters, brochures and more, but she wouldn’t have it any other way! She loves to travel and is always daydreaming about her next adventure. When she’s at home, you’ll most likely find her hanging out with her family and friends, eating chocolate or reading a good book.