4-H and AmeriCorps are working together to encourage youth and adults alike to establish positive relationships through planned mentoring. By establishing these relationships we hope to provide today's youth with a greater sense of self-worth, empowerment, and direction. The adult providing these services will move forward with this relationship knowing that they have made a difference in a child's life, while at the same time enriching their own. Through 4-H's involvement both mentor and mentee will experience some of the programs and opportunities offered by 4-H.

Description:
This agency is a one-on-one, community based mentoring program. We are a small agency that offers personalized attention. We are in regular contact with our mentors and offer many group activities for all mentors and mentees. To become a volunteer, mentors have an extensive background check done, six hours of mentor training, and are committed to meeting with their youth for two hours a week over the course of one year.

History:
The program is supported by a federal grant. Since it’s beginning the program has gotten a strong foundation started with area school, and business partners helping to support it’s efforts, mentoring matches started with over twenty volunteers still in the application process, and collaborative efforts began with area mentoring organizations. 4-H Mentoring Program now looks to get a larger support staff and gain program funding.

Contact people:

Margaret Pionk, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email) Stephanie Cluley, (phone), (email)

Address:

121 E. Maple Street/P.O. Box 319 Mason, MI 48854 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.cacvoices.org/organizations/4hmentoring