If you are looking for an opportunity to
● gain knowledge and understanding about MyKNA, USA’s goals and objectives,
● gain a sense of purpose knowing you are impacting the lives of our children,
● learn a new skill,
● meet new parents and youths,
● build your community,
● advance your career by adding a volunteer experience to your resume, and
● boost your overall self-esteem and confidence,
Then consider joining our team of volunteers. APPLY HERE!
Mentoring can help youth as they go through challenging life transitions, including dealing with stressful changes at
home or transitioning to adulthood. Peer mentors are volunteer who may have personal experience with substance
abuse and are able to reflect on their experience and understanding to support others.
A 1995 study of the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) showed that youth with mentors were less likely to begin using
drugs or alcohol compared to their peers. Specifically, 6.2% of youth with mentors initiated drug use compared to 11.4
%of their peers without mentors, and 19.4% initiated alcohol use compared to 26.7%. These findings were more
substantial for minority youth (Tierny et al., 1995). Findings from a study of the Across Ages mentoring program
showed that mentees gained important life skills to help them stay away from drugs (LoSciuto, Rajala, Townsend, &
Taylor, 1996).
Tierney, J. P., Grossman, J. B., & Resch, N. L. (1995). Making a difference: An impact study of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Public/Private Venture. (PDF, 71 pages)
LoSciuto, L., Rajala, A. K., Townsend, T. N., Taylor, A. S. (1996). An outcome evaluation of across ages: An intergenerational mentoring approach to drug
● Increased high school graduation rates
● Lower high school dropout rates
● Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices
● Better attitude about school
● Higher college enrollment rates and higher educational
aspirations
● Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence
● Improved behavior, both at home and at school
● Stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers
● Improved interpersonal skills
● Decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use.
Cavell, T., DuBois, D., Karcher, M., Keller, T., & Rhodes, J. (2009).
Strengthening mentoring opportunities for at-risk youth. Retrieved from
http://www.mentoring.org/downloads/mentoring_1233.pdf (PDF, 4 pages)
● Increased self-esteem
● A sense of accomplishment
● Creation of networks of volunteers
● Insight into childhood, adolescence, and young
adulthood
● Increased patience and improved supervisory
skills.
U.S. Department of Labor. Office of Disability Employment Policy. (n.d.).
Cultivating leadership: Mentoring youth with disabilities. Retrieved from
http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/cultivate.htm
Do you know of a potential Mentor who is the “right fit” for our program?
