Nearly one in five youths live in poverty and are at risk of falling prey to crime, drugs and other hurdles that keep them from obtaining an education, entering the workforce and becoming productive adults.
In an effort to help more children and teens achieve, the Hot Springs Family YMCA will offer the new group model of the Reach & Rise Mentoring Program, a national YMCA program supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Research has shown youths are more likely to succeed with the support of a caring adult, and the program connects adult co-mentors with groups of youths 8 to 15 years old for periods of eight to 16 weeks, a news release said.
The new program is designed to engage at-risk youth who lack role models and are in communities challenged by poverty, crime, truancy and single-parent households, among other social issues.
The Y will recruit and train adult volunteer mentors to colead group mentoring services and create safe, healthy and meaningful relationships with the youths. Mentors and mentees will participate in service projects, field trips and other engaging activities, the release said.
"Hot Springs Family YMCA is excited to begin offering the Reach & Rise Mentoring Program, which will benefit many of our youth, inspiring them to reach their full potential," said Hope Foster, Reach & Rise group mentoring coordinator.
"Through this program, more youth in Hot Springs will develop relationships with caring mentors, families and schools leading to higher achievement and a brighter future."
While the YMCA had previously offered one-on-one mentoring, the group program is "brand-new," Foster said, noting, "We are just in the recruitment stage of the game since they hired all of the directors for it in October. We are needing to start training mentors by January so we can kick off with our first-ever groups in the middle of February."
Foster said a couple of mentors have already signed up. "Luckily, I only need four to six to start the program, but would love to have more so we can have as many options for compatibility as possible for backup just in case life was to happen and throw us a kink or two," she said.
"I think getting the word out is going to be a major help since the program is brand-new and I am starting totally fresh from scratch," she said, noting she has been getting help and possible leads from Elan McAfee, director of the one-on-one mentoring program.
Both directors have been working a booth at the Hot Springs Farmers & Artisans Market to promote the programs.
"I really think this program is going to be great and such a wonderful thing for the youth in the community and the adults as well," Foster said.
The Reach & Rise Mentoring Program was founded in 1992 and led by the YMCA of San Francisco. As part of a national expansion, the Hot Springs Family YMCA is one of 38 Ys now offering the group program, in addition to the 38 Ys offering one-to-one mentorship programs.
Call Foster at 623-8803, email [email protected] or visit http://www.hsymca.com for more information.
Local on 12/09/2016