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“Talk about stuff that I can’t talk about with my mom. My |
MissionMentoring programs at Helping Services strive to connect youth with a caring adult who can help them aspire, achieve and develop to their fullest potential. Program Goals are designed to help youth:Build resiliency
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History of the Programs
Interest for a mentoring program began in 1996 in Winneshiek County, when individuals from agencies serving youth gathered to determine the interest in a mentoring program. Building Bridges Through Mentoring began operation in January of 1998. Allamakee County began in November of 1998 using the name Mentoring Mania: Catch It. They later changed their name to the Allamakee Mentoring Program. Howard County began their program MY Club (the M stands for Mentoring and the Y for Youth), in January of 1999.
Current funding sources include private donors from individuals and community groups, and a Youth Mentoring Grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health. September of 2009 brought substantial increases in funding for mentoring programs at Helping Services.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded two large federal grants to add resources for mentors to be supported. Kids of Promise is coordinated by Rosa Grant and provides support for mentors to include specialized training on youth issues and structured activities for select mentors to do with their mentees. The second grant funds structured activities for all mentoring matches, trainings, and events, parenting classes and support for the families of mentees. This grant is called Mentoring Plus and is coordinated by Joelle Nielsen. Kathy Schwartzhoff coordinates mentor matches under the Youth Mentoring and Mentoring Plus funding sources.
