Mentor Richland County offers a school-based mentoring program in partnership with Richland County Schools in Richland County, Illinois. The program is designed to offer mentoring relationships to students in the area schools during the school day.

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WHO CAN BE A MENTOR?

Mentors are: 

• 17-70+

• Mentors are retired, employed, or students (high school or college)

• Someone of good character who spends 1 hour per week with the child at the school for at least one year

 

HOW DOES MENTORING WORK?

Children in need of individual attention and assistance with school work and/or social skills will be matched with a mentor. Depending upon the need of each student, a mentor may provide any or all of the following to a child: 
 

• Relationship building– becoming friends with a child; accepting a child as he or she is. 

• Being a “role model” - or someone a student can look up to. 

• Being a “listener” - someone a child can talk to freely. 

• Tutoring– helping  with schoolwork, studying for tests, or encouragement and assistance with specific subjects. 

• Giving their time. Just one hour a week for the duration of the school year (9 months). 

 

Students and their mentors do a variety of activities during their time together such as play outside, work on school work, read together, play board games and draw or create together. It's amazing how fun being a child's cheerleader and supporter can be!

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DOES MENTORING WORK?

A recent study of similar school-based mentoring programs showed that: 

• 64% of the students developed a more positive attitude toward school 

• 58% achieved higher grades 

• 46% less likely to use illegal drugs 

• 52% less likely to skip school 

• 62% were more likely to trust their teachers

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Each time Mentor Richland County pairs a child with a role model, we start something incredible: a one-to-one relationship built on trust and friendship that can blossom into a future of unlimited potential. 

By becoming a school-based mentor, you can do the same for a child, and you will both forever be changed by the experience! Give the gift of mentoring. Volunteer today!
 

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