Prevention Through Mentoring
SOY’s Prevention Through Mentoring program is funded through a grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health. In this project, SOY will target youth ages 5-18 who have been impacted by substance abuse and are currently living in Polk County.
The project will include both individual and group mentoring. The individual mentoring component provides traditional one-to-one mentor matches for a period of at least one year. All mentors will be trained, screened and monitored by SOY staff. In group mentoring each mentoring coordinator mentors a group of four youth and will receive support from other group mentor coordinators. With the group mentoring all mentees will be junior high or high school age. Matches will meet for an average of one hour a week for a minimum period of one year.
Mentors promote positive relational skills and pro-social behaviors among mentees and incorporate substance abuse prevention concepts and practices through their relationship with mentees. Substance abuse prevention discussion opportunities are provided for all matches on a quarterly basis.
If you would like to learn more about this program please contact Sarah Moore.
