Mentoring program for at-risk youth to begin in Scott County

A new program will pair mentors with at-risk children in four area counties.

Building Understanding; Developing Success, or BUDS for short, is a recently developed mentoring program funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The program will place volunteers 21 years old or older with at-risk children and teenagers ages 9 to 17. The juvenile office was developed under the U.S. Department of Justice to reduce child and teenage crime and violence.

The program will target children in four of Southeast Missouri's poorest counties: Stoddard and Scott counties have a poverty rate of 18 percent; New Madrid County, 21 percent; and Mississippi County, 28 percent. According to several studies by the Department of Justice and The National Center for Education Statistics, low socioeconomic status is a risk factor that can lead to juvenile delinquency and truancy problems. Other risk factors include living in a single-parent home and negative peer pressure.

"There is definitely a need for this program in the area," said Crystal Gilliland, disaster case manager with Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri.

"Mentoring can lead to positive changes in attitude, behavior and academics and can reduce at-risk behaviors such as skipping class, dropping out of school, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and gang involvement."

Volunteers essential

Gilliland said the key to a successful mentoring program is finding individuals willing to volunteer.

"At this time, we have two volunteers; however, we can serve 28 children and teenagers, which means we have the need for 28 more mentors," Gilliland said. "This mentoring program will help the children and teenagers build trust with an adult and provide a deepened connection into their community. In turn, those relationships will guide the children and teenagers through challenges and empower them to make good choices," she said.

Mentors will be placed with at-risk children within their own communities who share common interests, hobbies and backgrounds. Mentors will provide encouragement and support while working with children and spending leisure time together.

Requirements

Mentors must be 21 years of age or older; reside in Mississippi, New Madrid, Scott or Stoddard counties; agree to a one-year commitment of mentoring children and teenagers for two hours per week; attend required initial and quarterly training sessions; have reliable transportation, a current driver's license, insurance and a good driving record; and provide continuing communication with the program coordinator. Background checks are required.

Ashley Beggs, executive director with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Cape Girardeau, said it will be great to have another mentoring agency in the area with more widespread and rural access.

Beggs said her organization will refer cases to the Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri when calls come in for cases not in the Big Brothers Big Sisters focus area in Cape Girardeau. The agency has mentored children and teenagers from Scott County in the past, but because of the overwhelming need in Cape Girardeau, the agency is focusing its efforts here.

A grant received by the Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri was for $105,000, and the program will run through September 2015. While the grant won't completely fund the program, Gilliland said Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri will provide additional funding.

"The grant amount does not cover the entire cost of the children and teenagers mentoring program but will be used toward the program director's salary, the costs of special events attended by mentors and children and teenagers, and programming materials. Our organization will provide additional funding from its operating budget and donations to complete the cost of the program," Gilliland said.

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri offers several other programs in the area, including case management for disaster and developmental disabilities, health programs for mothers and babies, and homeless prevention programs.

Those who know an at-risk child who might benefit from a mentor may contact Gilliland at 573-481-0659.