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Governor Snyder proclaimed January 2013 as Michigan Mentoring Month. This annual effort highlights the importance and impact of mentoring in communities across the state and is held in conjunction with National Mentoring Month.
"Youth in mentoring relationships benefit in many ways, including higher educational attainment, improved mental health and self-esteem, and reduced behavioral problems," explained Mentor Michigan Program Director Amber Troupe. Mentor Michigan is the lead agency on Michigan Mentoring Month activities and an initiative of the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), the state's lead agency on service and volunteerism.
In addition to spotlighting the impact of mentoring, the Michigan Mentoring Month celebration also draws awareness to the important need for mentors in the state. Though more than 18,000 mentors currently serve 22,000 Michigan youth, the number of youth waiting to obtain a mentor is in the thousands.
"By simply giving their time as a mentor, a caring adult can make the world of difference in the life of young person," commented Lt. Governor Brian Calley. "I would encourage everyone to consider becoming a mentor - it takes as little as an hour each week and can have the impact of a lifetime." Lt. Governor Calley and his wife Julie, a MCSC Commissioner, traveled to the National Mentoring Summit earlier this month to speak about the importance of mentoring in the state of Michigan.
For additional information about how you can support a young person through mentoring, visit the Mentor Michigan website at www.mentormichigan.org.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Mentor Michigan supports nearly 250 organizations around the state that are changing lives by matching mentors with young people. Mentor Michigan provides those organizations with training and research. It fosters partnerships with businesses, faith-based and nonprofit organizations, schools, colleges and universities, and state and local government to support mentoring. Mentor Michigan also builds public awareness about the importance of and the need for mentors by urging caring adults to "Pass It On," because sharing a little of yourself with a young person can reward both of you with lifelong benefits.
Mentor Michigan is an initiative of the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), the state agency on service and volunteerism. The MCSC is housed in the Michigan Department of Human Services, whose mission is to assist children, families, and vulnerable adults to be safe, stable, and self-supporting
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