Are you the one? We have youth who are waiting for you.
RUSC Kinship has several opportunities for adults to become a mentor.
- 6 year old male: likes pretending, arts & crafts, dinosaurs, and playing with farm toys, playing at the park, playing games, being read to and likes lots of different animals.
- 9 year old male: enjoys playing games and watching movies
- 11 year old girl: enjoys so many things!! Being with people, jumping in and trying most anything
- 14 year old male: enjoys games, watching movies, and a bonus if the mentor would have a dog!
- 15 year old male: enjoys Harry Potter, video games, playing chess, reading, and is very inquisitive
- 16 year old male: enjoys sports, video games, and drawing
Get started and learn more here!
Why become a mentor?
Mentoring is a trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support, and encouragement. The mentoring relationship guarantees a young person that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with daily challenges, and makes them feel like they matter. There is plenty of research that will give you statistics about the positive effects of mentoring young people:
- Increased high school graduation rates
- Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence
- Healthier lifestyle choices
- Decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use (MENTOR, 2009; Cavell, DuBois, Karcher, Keller, & Rhodes)
- Stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers
What does mentoring with RUSC Kinship look like?
When you become a Community Mentor, there is an application, interview, and background study that needs to be conducted, and some training. Once that is complete, we match our mentors with a youth who is signed up with our program.
Mentors, Mentees, and Parents have the opportunity to accept or decline the match suggested by the RUSC Kinship staff.
Matches are based on interests, geography, preference, and personalities. A meeting is set to meet each other and then the magic happens. Mentors and Mentees decide on their own activities that they would like to do together as well as having the option to join in the monthly scheduled activities provided by RUSC Kinship. We ask for at least a one year commitment and to spend at least 4 hours per month together.
Another option is the Lunch Buddy Program. If you would like to be a Lunch Buddy there is an application, short on-line training, and a background study that needs to be completed. [click here to get started!] After that, the adult Lunch Buddy meets with a second grade student from one of our participating schools. The second graders have parent permission before engaging in the program. The Lunch Buddy program meets once a month on a specific day of the month. We have lunch together and then do an activity together. The time commitment is about one hour each month of the school year.
Our third program, that is just getting started, is having volunteers go into area daycares and read Dolly Parton Imagination Books to the daycare children. As with the rest of our programs, the volunteer must pass a background study. RUSC Kinship will get the contact initiated between the volunteer and daycare provider.
Not sure where to start? Learn more about all these programs by clicking here.