WANTED:  MENTORS FOR CORTLAND COUNTY YOUTH

By Leslie Wilkins

            Think back! Did you know everything you do today when you were growing up? Did you always feel there was someone who cared about you and supported you? More and more youth across the country and right here in Cortland County are in need of extra support.

            The Cortland Area Communities that Care Coalition (CACTC) fosters community collaboration with their partner agencies to reduce substance use, teen pregnancy, delinquency, school dropout rates, and violence among our youth. One of the ways to help reduce the risk factors facing many youth is through mentoring. 

Research confirms that mentoring works.  A Research Brief published by Child Trends found that youth that participate in mentoring relationships experience a number of positive benefits.

• Education - mentored youth have better attendance, better chance of going on to higher education and better attitudes toward school.

• Health and Safety-  mentoring helps prevent substance abuse and reduce negative youth behaviors.  A Public/Private Ventures study done by Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America showed, youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking.

• Social and Emotional - taking part in mentoring promotes positive social attitudes and relationships, and improves communication skills as well as self-confidence.

The need is widespread across every corner of our county. Pressures at home, at school and with peers can be overwhelming for kids. Cortland County is fortunate to have two long-standing youth mentoring programs in place-  the YWCA Bridges for Kids program (ages 5-12) and Family Counseling Services Youth Assist Program (ages 9 – 16). Both agencies work to place mentors with youth who are in need of extra support. A mentor can help change the direction of a young person’s life.

 A mentor is someone who helps provide youth with a sense of personal worth that can last a lifetime. One Bridges for Kids mentor feels it is her way to give back. When she was fourteen and living in a high crime area of Los Angeles, she was matched with a mentor who encouraged her to finish school and to continue on to college. Now, she is a successful educator who, after ninteen years, still keeps in touch with her mentor. She has continued with the mentoring tradition and has met with one local youth for the past two years.

 Becoming a mentor is as rewarding for the adult as it is beneficial for the child. You do not need to have any special talents or skills, simply a caring desire to spend quality time with a youth a couple of hours a week. Again, think back. Wasn’t there someone special in your life that took individual interest, encouraged you, and helped guide you as you grew up? Be that special person for a youth in our community.

For more information on becoming a mentor, contact Leslie Wilkins, Prevention Coordinator, Family Counseling Services Youth Assist Program at 607-753-0234, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or contact Sara Earl, Program Director, YWCA, Bridges for Kids at 607-753-9651 or email