“Across Ages” Mentoring Program launched by Partnership

Morgan County Partnership has launched yet another mentoring program. “Across Ages” pairs up 50+ with middle school-aged students.
The program employs four areas:

The adult spends two hours a week mentoring one on one. This can be playing a board game, sharing a pizza, helping with homework, playing basketball, visiting the library, or some other activity that the adult and child have an interest in.

The student does 1-2 hours a week community service, such as chores for older adults with limited mobility, helping in a daycare center after school, working in a food pantry, serving at the soup kitchen, or helping to plant and maintain a community garden.

A Lifeskills curriculum is taught, which includes sessions on stress management, self-esteem and problem-solving skills. It will be taught on a weekly basis in a class setting with the students.

Planned monthly activities with the mentors, students and their families. This can be a picnic at the park; events that encourage the parent and child in an active, participating role; skating or bowling parties or trips to historic places.

Across Ages has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club, making it their central location for mentors to meet their students. The student will ride the bus there, meet their mentor, and either stay there and do homework downstairs in the Senior Center, walk to the library, shoot hoops at the Biser Street Park or whatever the mentor and student choose to do.

According to the PRIDE survey and Search Institute Survey — Profiles of Student Life done at Warm Springs Middle School, only 19% of youth in Morgan County reported having an adult positive role model. “After seeing these and other statistics, I am all the more convinced this program is needed in Morgan County,” said Janice Lee, Across Ages Mentoring Coordinator. “Together, we can work towards making sure all Morgan County kids have someone to help and support them,” she added.

Training is provided to all new mentors. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a mentor, contact Lee at Morgan County Partnership, 304-258-7807 for more information.