The mission of Mentor Iowa is to provide trained volunteer mentors to abused, neglected, and delinquent children who are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. We will do this by working in partnership with the children, their families and the community

Description:
Mentor Iowa asks volunteers to spend a minimum of 6 hours every 30 days with their mentee. Most volunteers average weekly contact, either by telephone or in person. Volunteers are asked to spend one-on-one time with their mentee, as well as incorporate the child, as long as the mentor is comfortable, into some of the mentor's regular routines. Things like going grocery shopping or doing errands, things that most would consider "normal" are what the children are missing and want to be a part of.
There is a two part training class that volunteers must complete. Volunteers must also pass background checks.

History:
Mentor Iowa was founded in 1974 by Polk County Juvenile Court Judge Donald Tidrick, interested court personnel and concerned citizens. Judge Tidrick had attended a seminar in Royal Oak, Michigan on a program called Volunteers in Probation (VIP). The program addressed the issue of the increasing numbers of juveniles in the court system. With similar situations in Polk County, Judge Tidrick and his committee created a non-profit organization to help meet the needs of Children in Need of Assistance (CINA).
In November 2000, the board of directors voted to change the name of the organization to "Mentor Iowa" to better reflect our mission statement and goals. Mentor Iowa added an honorary board, whose members have lent their prominent names in support of Mentor Iowa's on-going efforts.

After 30 years of service, Mentor Iowa continues to grow and be recognized within the community as a leading mentoring organization for court-involved children in central Iowa. Mentor Iowa continues to see ever-increasing referrals from the Polk County Department of Human Services. Collaborations continue with the Polk County Juvenile Court Services' Early Services Project (ESP) and Truancy Court. In 2003 Mentor Iowa established a new collaboration with Youth Justice Initiative (YJI). YJI is a diversionary program for West Des Moines youth who have committed their first delinquent act. YJI is designed to develop and sustain restorative processes in the WDM community. Mentor Iowa remains committed to helping the "fall through the crack" children in central Iowa.

Contact people:

Marty Lester, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Kristen Gruntorad, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (515) 277-8181

Address:

3900 Ingersoll Avenue, Suite 102 Des Moines, IA 50312 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.mentoriowa.org