YOUTH MENTORING NEWSLETTER | Allamakee, Howard, Winneshiek

October  2019 

 LET’S EXPLORE EFFIGY MOUNDS . 

It’s time to do a little hiking and exploring at Effigy Mounds near Harpers Ferry. Our group event for mentees, mentors, Mentors For A Day, and waiting youth will be Saturday, October 12 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.  

We will be exploring a small portion of the Effigy Mounds National Monument area and going through their indoor displays. We will then travel to Pikes Peak State Park to enjoy a picnic lunch, scavenger hunt, and a short hike.

Carpooling from Decorah will leave from the Helping Services’ office at 10: a.m. Please RSVP to Kathy or Colinne by Monday, October 7. When you RSVP, share if you wish to carpool or if you will be traveling to Effigy Mounds using your own transportation.


Mentors For A Day are needed! This event is sponsored by community foundations and Iowa Mentoring Partnership grants.  

  SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING SEEKS MENTORS.

Mentors and students at John Cline School in Decorah are enjoying spending time together during their school-based mentoring time.

Mentors who are college-age and older meet once a week for one hour at the school with their youth. Students are selected based on school criteria to be part of the program. Youth Mentoring seeks a mentor for the youth that is able to meet with the youth during the time period selected by the classroom teacher. Time selections are made so that mentoring times do not conflict with core subjects such as reading or math. It is also important that the student is not missing a special class such as art, music, or guidance. Mentors are screened, trained, and supported by Youth Mentoring.

Youth are currently being selected for the program and mentors are needed. Please contact Kathy if you are interested in this exciting experience!

                 

School-based match Addy and Carol enjoy spending time together.  

   CALENDAR OF EVENTS.

October 12

  • Effigy Mounds Group Event, 11:00 a.m. -1:30 p.m., 151 IA-76, Harpers Ferry

    October 21

  • Mentor Monday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Community Room, Decorah Public Library, Decorah  

     

   STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

October 8

  • Building Bridges Through Mentoring, 4:15 p.m., Helping Services’ office, Decorah     

October 21

  •  MY Club, 4:00 p.m., Cresco Public Library, 320 Elm Street, Cresco    

November 25

  • Allamakee Mentoring Program, 4:00 p.m., NICC/WWC, 1220 3rd Avenue NW, Waukon         
     

IT’S TIME TO GET TO KNOW ME. WILL YOU BE MY MENTOR?

I’m Jane. I live in Lansing.  I like football, soccer, bike riding, singing and eating mac and cheese. I want to be a vet when I grow up.

Contact Kathy or Colinne today or go to www.helpingservices.org/mentoring 

This is a publication of Youth Mentoring at
Helping Services: Allamakee Mentoring Program, Building Bridges Through Mentoring, and MY Club.

       WWW.HELPINGSERVICES.ORG/MENTORING     .

   

             Winneshiek County Steering Committee members, Colleen, Diane, Allison, and Kulla were recognized for their volunteerism at the August Family Picnic.  

 FUNDING HELPS MAKE MENTORING POSSIBLE.

The cost of keeping a quality mentoring program functioning to its greatest potential is a challenge. Below are a few of the funders who specifically support Youth Mentoring.

  • Iowa Department of Public Health: Focuses on substance abuse prevention activities, Advisory Councils, and following national standards. Funds also cover staffing needs and office expenses.
  • Iowa Mentoring Partnership: Supports 25 matches of youth who need a positive role-model. Funds cover staffing needs, some event costs, training expenses, recruitment efforts, and mileage expenses.
  • Allamakee, Howard, & Winneshiek County Community Foundations: Promotes youth having new experiences. Funds cover recruitment, background checks, events, staff mileage, and outing expenses.    

PONDERING QUESTION 

How would your goals for the future be affected by using drugs?

 T Rex and Lawrence are hanging out at the Children’s Museum of La Crosse.          

 HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS ABOUT EVENTS .

Youth Mentoring plans many fun and exciting events over the course of the year. We wanted to remind you of a few housekeeping items related to events.

  1. Each parent/guardian must complete a permission form for their child(ren) planning to attend an event. This form describes details of the event, important medical information, and the misconduct policy. More than one child may be put on the permission slip.
  2. All mentors, mentees, Mentors For A Day, and guests must sign-in at each event they attend. This helps us keep accurate records.
  3. Mentors need to share with their mentoring coordinator the amount of time they spent with their mentee for an event. Sign-in sheets only document your time at the event site, not any before or after activities you do.
  4. Please be sure to RSVP to each event. We love knowing you are attending and we can then prepare all items you need for the event.  

           Kevin and Ben play a giant game of Operation at the children’s museum event.

 VAPING TRAINING IN NOVEMBER .  

Have you heard youth talking about vaping and wondered what they were talking about? Wonder no more, on Tuesday, November 19 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Notre Dame Elementary in Cresco, we are having a training on vaping.

Mentors, Mentors For A Day, parents and guardians are invited and encouraged to attend. Everyone is welcome! We will be educated about vaping and how it is affecting our youth. Please RSVP to your mentoring coordinator by Wednesday, November 13!

  MENTORING STAFF .

Kathy Schwartzhoff, CPS
kathys@helpingservices.org 

Colinne McCann

cmccann@helpingservices.org

           

805 E Main Street, Decorah • 563-387-1720