Maliseet Boys & Girls Club announces mentoring program

    HOULTON — The Maliseet Boys & Girls Club is pleased to announce it has received funding to establish a mentoring program. With funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention, the National Congress of American Indians is providing program awards to 15 Native American Boys & Girls Club organizations. The Maliseet Boys & Girls Club is pleased to have been selected as one of the 15 grant recipients for this exciting program. Club staff will participate in a two-day national training for the development and implementation of the Club’s new Mentoring Program later this month.
    The Mentoring Program involves recruiting volunteer Mentors who will be matched with a youth Mentee. Volunteer Mentors agree to meet with their Mentee at the Club site for at least one hour per week for one year. Besides offering friendship and a listening ear, Mentors and Mentees will engage in a variety of fun and meaningful activities individually and in groups. With the support of the award funds, the Club has hired a Mentor Program Coordinator who will oversee the initiative.
    It has been demonstrated that a trusting relationship with a caring adult can have a life-changing effect on a young person. Research data indicates that mentoring programs have reduced first-time drug use by almost 50 percent and first-time alcohol use by 33 percent. In addition, mentored youth displayed greater confidence in their schoolwork and improved their academic performance.
    January is National Mentoring Month. The theme for the 7th Annual National Campaign is “Share What You Know, Mentor a Child.”  If you are interested in sharing your time and your knowledge and making a difference in the life of a child, please contact Josh Berry at 532-2240 or stop by the Club to learn how you can become a volunteer Mentor.