Let's put the men in mentoring

Kinship Partners needs male mentors! Of the 43 children waiting for a mentor in Crow Wing and southern Cass counties 30 are boys. Here's a breakdown: In the Brainerd area 20 boys ages 7 to 13, in the Lakes area 6 boys ages 9 to 12 and in the Crosby area only 4 children are waiting and they are all boys ages 5 to 11. On average these boys have waited over four months for a mentor!

Research shows that today boys outnumber girls in learning disorders, dropout rates, violence, stuttering, obesity, gambling and video game fixations, school suspensions, hyperactivity, low grades and general disengagement.

Mentoring Works! Research also shows that children with mentors: are 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs, are 53% less likely to skip school, are 27 percaent less likely to use alcohol, are 33 percent less likely to engage in school violence, and are improving relationships and academic performance.

Mentoring is simple! A mentor is a guide, a friend, a listener and a responsible adult. A mentor is not a savior, a foster parent, a therapist or a parole officer. At Kinship Partners we know, as our mentors can testify, that all it takes is a couple of hours each week to change a child's world.

Can you imagine yourself spending a couple of hours a week hanging out with a young man full of life and desperately wanting to learn about guy stuff? There is not better time than now for you to share your interests with a young man who really wants a positive, consistent and caring man in his life. Call Kinship Partners today at 218-829-4606. We have a boy waiting to spend quality time with you.