Norwalk Mentor Program

The Norwalk Mentor Program strives to assist identified students on the brink of success to
improve self-esteem and motivation in order to stem the tide of dropouts at an early age.

Description:
The Norwalk Mentor Program is a school-based, one-on-one mentoring program that matches positive adult role models with identified students in all 19 of our Norwalk Public Schools. Students spend one hour per week throughout the school year meeting with the corporate or community volunteer with whom they are matched. Adult mentors and student mentees spend their hour reading, going to the Library, working on the computer, playing games, making puzzles, going outside, or pursuing a special, shared interest. The program provides mentors with initial training along with ongoing support. Mentors are asked to make a commitment of at least one school year. However, if mentor and mentee remain together through the senior year of high school and graduation, the mentee becomes eligible for post-secondary scholarship awards through the Norwalk Mentor Scholarship Fund.

History:
The Norwalk Mentor Program is currently in its 17th year of operation, and is the oldest and largest program of its kind in America today. It has become a model for others to replicate, and has been recognized at both the State and National levels for innovation, excellence and success. The Program received the President's Volunteer Action Award in 1993, and was recognized for its outstanding commitment and leadership to mentoring by Governor John Rowland in 1999 along with being named the 1999 Outstanding Mentor Program by the Connecticut Mentoring Partnership.

Contact person: Jackie Effren, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (203) 849-1151

Address:

Human Services Council One Park Street Norwalk, CT 06851 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.hscct.org/mentor

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: East Norwalk- MetroNorth Rail Station on East Avenue,   Walk distance (in minutes): 15 mins.   Nearest Bus Stop: Wheels Bus stops on East Avenue, 5 mins. minute walk

Last updated on July 30, 2009