There’s just one problem with mentoring in Freeborn County.

“There’s always a waiting list,” said Carolyn Smith of Community Mentor Connection. “There’s usually more kids signed up than mentors because it’s tough to find mentors.”

January 2011 has been declared National Mentoring Month by President Barack Obama, and more than anything, Smith would like to make matches for all of the children enrolled in CMC. She currently has 30 children in Freeborn County matched up with adult mentors, and six children on the waiting list, patiently waiting for a mentor.

A mentor is a caring adult who becomes a friend and role model to a child: someone the child can trust, learn from and enjoy being with.

Children can be suggested for the mentoring program by parents, teachers or Human Services workers. Smith said the children must have some sort of risk factor in their lives: divorce in the family, school-related issues, social problems, drug or alcohol problems in the family.

“Economic and social issues really impact families,” she said. “When parents are struggling, it’s hard for the kids, too, because they pick up on that stress.”

The goal is to match children up with mentors to give the youth a support system, which may not be available through the child’s family dynamics.

Smith tries to match children up to mentors based on the results from interest surveys. Mentors and mentees are free to choose safe and wholesome social, recreational and educational activities that they’re both interested in. Activities can include anything from sports activities to baking, fishing to reading, and homework to special projects.

The time they spend together does not have to mean they are out doing grandiose things together and doesn’t have to cost a dime.

“They can do arts and crafts, play outside, maybe the mentor helps the child with homework,” Smith said. “It’s just a matter of getting together and having fun together.”

Become a mentor

Mentors are volunteers who commit to meeting frequently and consistently with a child for a minimum of one year. It only takes a few hours out of a person’s schedule to serve a child as a mentor.

Smith said to become a mentor, one must complete an application process, complete with background checks. The person submitting the application must also provide three references.

“We’re pretty careful to make sure our children are safe,” said Smith.

After a mentor passes all of the checkpoints, complete with a formal interview, CMC provides training along with support throughout the lifetime of the mentorship.

“These children and their mentors really creates friendships for life,” Smith said.

The CMC is a nonprofit organization under Success Through Adults Reaching Students. Smith also oversees the STARS office in Wells, which serves eastern Faribault County. To sign up to be a mentor, call Smith at 507-383-5272 or e-mail starsforkids@yahoo.com.

How mentoring works:

Support for education
• Mentors help keep students in school.
• Students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52 percent less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37 percent less likely to skip a class.
• Mentors help with homework and can improve their mentees’ academic skills.

Support with day-to-day living
• Mentors help improve a young person’s self-esteem.
• Mentors provide support for students trying new behaviors.
• Youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46 percent less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27 percent less likely to start drinking.
• About 40 percent of a teenager’s waking hours are spent without companionship or supervision. Mentors provide teens with a valuable place to spend free time.
• Mentors teach young people how to relate well to all kinds of people and help them strengthen communication skills.

Support in the workplace
• Mentors help young people set career goals and start taking steps to realize them.
• Mentors can use their personal contacts to help young people meet industry professionals, find internships and locate job possibilities.
• Mentors introduce young people to professional resources and organizations they may not know about.
• Mentors can help their mentees learn how to seek and keep jobs.

The number of ways mentoring can help a youth are as varied as the people involved in each program. While the lists and statistics can be impressive, personal stories can be even more impressive.