4-County Mentoring Program

The 4-county mentoring program, Lutheran Family Services, and the community members of the Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, and Johnson counties in Nebraska are joining to provide mentoring to the youth in these counties.

The program has two goals:

• To help youth increase their assets so that they will grow up healthy, caring and responsible
  
• To decrease substance use by youth

What is the aim of youth mentoring?

A youth mentor is a positive role model. Kids want values, and they learn by seeing them modeled by a caring supportive adult. A mentor may play many roles in working with youth:

• Guide
• Friend
• Cheerleader
• Coach
• Link to Other Cultures, Attitudes and Behaviors
• Self-Esteem Booster

A true mentor does not ask another person to "be like me" but rather says, "I will help you be whoever you wish to be."

Mentors help youth clarify and achieve their dreams and goals.

Who can be a youth mentor?

If you are 21 years of age or older, live in the 4-county area, pass a background check, and have time for a child then you can make a positive contribution to the youth of our counties.

The most crucial requirement for a mentor is to be a safe adult that has time for a child, cares about that child, and who believes in that child. This relationship may provide the only stability this youth may know, and the time anyone spends in the role of a mentor is 'quality time.'

If you know a child that lives in one of these counties between the ages of 7-17 that could benefit from a one-to-one relationship with a caring adult, please call (402) 852-3141 or toll free: (866) 384-8226 in Pawnee City for more information.

This program is funded by the County Juvenile Services Aid Program. This contribution matched by Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, and Johnson counties.