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 “I’ve learned to have patience, listen to [them], what’s going on in their life and to help them when they need you most.”
–Rosy, Macomb County Mentor |
Michigan 4-H Learn and Serve Teen Mentors Program
Overview
In 2006 Michigan 4-H Youth Development began a partnership with the Michigan Community Service Commission and Learn and Serve America called the Michigan 4-H Learn and Serve Teen Mentors Program. This three-year program aims to provide high-quality service learning opportunities for 700 teens in Michigan by matching them in mentoring relationships with younger youth.
Current Program News
View the Serving Up Learning, Michigan 4-H Learn and Serve: Teen Mentors Program newsletter:
Participants
Thirteen counties participated in this initiative during the 2006–07 program year. In 2007–08, this number expanded to 18 counties. Participating counties are Antrim, Benzie, Clinton, Crawford, Dickinson, Gratiot, Ingham, Iosco, Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb, Oakland, Oscoda, Presque Isle, Saginaw, Schoolcraft and Wayne.
Impacts
In 2006–07, 114 Michigan teens were matched with 113 younger youth in mentoring relationships. Forty-three percent of these teens were male and sixty-five percent were from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2007–08, a professional project evaluator was added to help document the impacts of the program on its participants.
Training
Both teen mentors and youth mentees involved in the program receive training locally before being placed in a mentoring relationship. Additionally, online training modules are being developed at the state level to support 4-H peer mentors. Program staff are trained through face-to-face workshops and an online course focused on the design and operation of a community based service learning peer mentoring program.
Online Training Module
The following training module includes a quiz and certificate of completion at the end.
Program Examples
The Benzie County Mentor ARTS! program matches teens aged 15 to 19 with elementary school students in one-on-one mentoring relationships. The matches then build their relationship by working with the local artisan community to develop projects in visual arts, music or drama.
The Mackinac County Better Understanding with Students (BUS) mentoring program matches older teens with elementary school-aged children in mentoring relationships. This program takes advantage of the rural nature of the county by having matches meet during their bus ride home from school. Since the program began, one bus driver reported a reduction in behavioral incidents, and students report feeling more comfortable interacting across age groups.
Contact
Chris Stickney, Associate Program Leader
4-H Youth Development
Children, Youth, Families and Communities
Michigan State University Extension
160 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
Phone: 517-432-7650
Fax: 517-355-6748
E-mail: stickne4@anr.msu.edu
Copyright
© 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Michigan State University
Last Updated: July 6, 2009
Last Reviewed: June 27, 2008 |
