What is Mentoring?• Mentoring is the presence of

a caring individual(s) who provides a young person with support, advice, friendship, reinforcement and constructive role modelling over time.

You don’t have to be superhuman Many people think it takes special skills or

accomplishments to be a mentor. Mentors come from all walks of life. What mentors have in common is the desire to

make a positive difference in the life of a young person.

Benefits of Mentoring Positive impact on school

attendance, social skills, attitude and behaviour with friends and family.

Helps prevent involvement in alcohol, drugs and crime.

Mentoring is Powerful• Mentoring is a powerful

way of supporting a young person by teaching skills, listening to their perspectives and fostering in them a sense of belonging.

Without Mentors…

In a school board in western Canada: 100% correlation between students

dropping out of school in Grade 10 and not having a caring relationship with an adult at school.

Statistical Support for Mentoring• Making a Difference An impact study of

Big Brothers/Big Sisters (1995)

Children and youth with mentors experienced: 46% less involvement in substance use 70% less substance use in African American youth 33% reduction in violent behaviour 50% reduction in school truancy significant improvement in school performance and

interactions with parents

Mentoring is Rewarding

You don’t have to be

superhuman to be a mentor, but you can feel like it.

Mentoring is Rewarding

There is a waiting list of young people in Alberta looking for a mentor.

What are you waiting for?

How to Get Involved! Lots of ways to be a mentor: in a school, a formal

mentoring program or informally as opportunities present themselves!

You don’t have to invest a lot of time.

A formal mentoring option can be tailored for your schedule.

Alberta Mentoring Partnership AMP is a partnership of government ministries,

government-funded organizations, community agencies and youth representation working together to provide more mentoring opportunities for Alberta’s children and youth.

AMP’s Vision

Every child who needs a mentor has access to a mentor.

ConclusionTogether, we have to ensure children and youth are properly cared for in society, have positive adult mentors in their lives, and are raised in safe, nurturing families.