Studies have shown that youth are helped by the love and guidance of a caring adult in an ongoing relationship. Partners believes all children need mentors for healthy development. Society once provided adult mentors to youth through extended family and intimate communities. Higher divorce rates and frequent moving are just two examples of how and why our society has changed. Partners is simply providing what society and community has lost, namely, the opportunity for children to bond with older, thoroughly screened and trained individuals outside of the immediate family.







PARTNERS WORKS!
Science-based pre-test/post-test evaluation tools enables us to collect data which demonstrates the positive effectiveness of our mentoring programs. Participating youth demonstrate and increase in: self-esteem, bonding to adults and school, future orientation, and decreased: delinquency, substance use, and violent behavior. OMNI Research and Training, in Denver, is contracted to analyze all data.

Several contributing factors are particularly prevalent within our Junior Partners. For example, in Routt County, “availability/use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs” (ATOD) is high as community norms are favorable towards their use and the local economy is heavily driven by tourism. The mentioned risk factor directly relates to the prevalence of another risk factor: “family history of problem behavior/parent criminality”, as this behavior is often is a result of ATOD abuse which correlates with high rates of domestic violence. These co-occurring risk factors contribute to “family management problems”. A high cost of living results in many families having both parents working full-time outside the home (or for single parents to have several jobs). This results in “poor parental supervision and/or monitoring”, possibly leading to youth reports of lacking “role models” and feeling little “social support from adults” and “positive social norms”.

In 2007, PRC served 75 Junior Partners through One-to-One. 60% were low income, 24% had a parent that has been/is incarcerated, 43% had a parent who has/is abusing drugs or alcohol, 60% are from single-parent families, and 50% are reported victims of abuse/neglect.

Based on Albert Bandura’s social learning theory, positive and negative reinforcement for one’s behavior, coupled with observing the behavior of others, provides the basis for how children learn to behave. As one develops, positive and negative reinforcements are internalized, determining how one acts as an adult. Social Development Theory (L.S. Vygotsky) emphasizes that protective factors can effectively serve to buffer the effects of youth risk factors. By matching and supporting at-risk youth in mentoring relationships with caring, responsible adults who engage them in healthy activities, and offer continuing encouragement for their positive behaviors and choices, youth are more likely to avoid high risk behaviors (alcohol use and violence) and to develop pro-socially.

TESTIMONIALS
Senior Partners say…

"I've experienced immense satisfaction from watching her (Junior Partner) grow and become more confident. I think it is really important to show kids that the whole world is open to them".

“Hanging out with someone young keeps me young.”

“It’s rewarding and feels really good. Seeing the
changes in my Junior Partners has been really cool.”

“I can tell it’s something my JP appreciates, it’s good
for him and therefore it’s good for me.”

“Spending time with someone young
helps me reaffirm my values.”

“I’m more active than I’ve been in years.”

Junior Partners say…

“Partners is a lot of fun, you get really close to
[your Senior Partner] and kinda feel like
they are your real brother or sister.”

“Once in a while when I have a fight with a friend
I ask my Senior Partner for advice.”

“Partners has a talent for putting people together
and making good partnerships.”

“We just have fun!”

"I was part of Partners for about five or six years and it really changd my life. When I joined, my parents were going through a really hyard time. I think it was onyl a few weeks and I was parentered with Verla. She really made an effort to show me new things and make me feel like a part of her family. Even when Verla left I still felt like Partrners was a kind of family [for me]. The activities were something I looked forward to doing and sumemr camps were a great gat-waya. I still feel Partners helped me to realize mylsef and when I am more secure and out of college, I hope to be a Senior Partner".


School-Based Mentor Quotes
Our middle schools say....

“I have enjoyed my two years working with this program. I see the benefits all the way around. The school has help to run programs, which is worthwhile. The students have another positive influence in their daily lives. The teachers have fresh, new influences with each mentor. The mentor, hopefully, takes some lessons from the school. The community sees the whole effect. Thank you so much for this program!”

“The program and the quality of the mentors you have provided over the last three years since I have been here has been tremendous. The school-based program is an invaluable part of the interventions we are able to provide to our students.”

"Our mentor is positive, calm person who coaches her students to treat each othre respectfully and to communcaite differences in a positive way. She is very supportive of her caseload and their acadmics needs."

“For the amount of money it takes to support this program, our students receive ten-fold in return”

“It is crucial for middle school students to make connections with adults, to have someone they can count on, and trust, and to build relationships that are not always present in their lives. The school-based mentoring program is a perfect opportunity for our students to make these connections.”

“They [School-Based Mentors] make a difference in the lives of the students who need it most.”