Peer Mentor Program Way to Help Title Way to Help Content The Peer Mentor Program establishes positive peer-to-peer and intergenerational mentoring relationships by engaging school administrators, teachers, student families, Adult Coaches, certified peer achievers; and at-risk 8th graders in a community-wide response to eliminate violence and self defeating attitudes that keep students from successful graduation. In this process, achieving 10th and 11th graders, who have graduated from Life Directions' Peer Motivation Program, are trained as Peer Mentors. After school they mentor 8th graders from nearby grammar schools to prepare them for a positive transition to high school. Peer Mentors receive support, encouragement and guidance from trained Adult Coaches recruited from neighborhood and business communities. Together they form a "pyramid of support" that advances the academic and social achievement of the Peer Mentors and their 8th Grade Mentees. The quality of relationship between ethnically diverse Adult Coaches, students, and families is enriched through leadership summits, community service projects, and seasonal gatherings. These out-of-school activities are planned by Adult Coaches in cooperation with student peer leaders. The activities emphasize cross-cultural interactions that celebrate hope, and the positive values necessary for living a good life within supportive communities. This type of cultural enrichment has proved to be profound for all involved, and builds up the following developmental assets of participating students: 1. Positive Identity with the culture of the home and family by allowing students to tell others about value and good they experience in their culture. 2. Intercultural Competence as students gain knowledge and comfort with people of different cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. 3. Awareness of Equality and Social Justice Issues across cultural, racial, ethnic and neighborhood boundaries. Connected to Organization --- not set --- Ways to Help Tags Ages 12-15 18-24 55+ Adults Adults (18+) Child with adult Children Teens Ages Served Adults (18+) Babies and Toddlers Birth to 5 College Elementary (5-10) High School Middle School Other Professionals Young Adults (18-24) Commitment Length 1 Day 1 Full Year 1 School Year 1 Semester 1-2 Months 3 Months 6 Months More Than A Year Genders Accepted Female Male Groups Corporate Teams Families Groups (10+) Groups (2-10) Individuals Guidance Provided In-depth Minimal Moderate How Often Monthly Occasional One-time Weekly Program Goals Academic Support Career Exploration Friendship/Socialization Healthy Behaviors Job Placement/Performance Other Reduce Recidivism Time Commitment 1 Day 1 Hour/Month 1 Hour/Week 2 Hours/Week 2+ Hours/Week 5+ Hours/Week Training Formal None On-site Type Education Emotional Enrichment (Arts) Event support Fitness Indoor Job Skills Office work Other Outdoor Physical Social Skills STEM Typically Help Different Large Groups Different One-to-One Different Small Groups Peer Same Large (5+) Group Same One-to-One Same Small Group When Anytime Weekday Afternoons Weekday Evenings Weekday Mornings Weekends Where After School Community Center Juvenile Correction Facility Library Mental Health Facility Nonprofit Other Place of Worship School Virtual/Online Volunteer's Choice Workplace Youth Served Abuse Survivors Academically at Risk Arts Differently-abled English Language Learners Enrichment Facing Illness First Gen College Food Insecure Foster Care Gifted Homeless Juvenile System LGBTQ+ Low Income Household Mental Health Other Physical Fitness Pregnant/Parenting STEM -- Parent -- Add New Ways to Help Youth Learn More LInk
