Be a mentor

WHY IT WORKS

All children need significant adult role models. Research has shown that youths, when mentored, tend to do better in school and at home. But for mentoring to be effective, relationships need to be sustained for at least six months, said Rachel Wise of Omaha's Building Bright Futures. Programs should aim toward meeting best practices in recruitment, screening, training, matching, monitoring and support, according to MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership. Many require background checks and screening interviews for prospective mentors.

WHO CAN HELP YOU DO IT

All our Kids

Works to increase mentoring and scholarship opportunities for at-risk youths in the Omaha area.

Phone: 930-3000 Web: www.allourkids.org

Amachi Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church

Mentoring for children ages 4 to 18 but can continue to age 21 if the youth is still in school. Mentors must agree to serve as mentors for a year, meeting at least four times a month. The group also serves children in high-crime areas and those already in the justice system.

Phone: 402-933-6554

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands

Provides mentoring to children of prisoners and siblings of offenders. Also provides mentors to youths ages 6 to 18 through schools, the community and its Latino program.

Phone: 402-505-3075 Web: www.bigomaha.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands

Sites throughout the metropolitan area promote healthy development and education. Gang-intervention programs at the north and South Omaha clubs work with youths who are gang members or have friends or relatives in gangs. Participants visit the clubs before or after club hours and are grouped based on their gang affiliations. A truancy-abatement program also works with youths on life skills and enrichment activities.

Phone: 342-1600 Web: www.bgcomaha.org

Girls Incorporated of Omaha

Serves 1,000 girls ages 5 to 18 with after-school programming in north and South Omaha. Services include transportation, meals and a range of educational, recreational and cultural programs. Girls Inc. weaves conflict resolution and healthy relationship lessons into programs.

Phone: 457-4676 Web: www.girlsincomaha.org

Goodwill Goodguides

This new program will begin serving about 40 youths ages 14 to 17, many of whom are in Omaha's juvenile justice system. Mentors commit to four hours monthly for a year. Goodwill is looking for more adult career-oriented mentors and youths.

Phone: Carly Swotek, 522-7232 Web: www.goodwillomaha.org

Grandfriends for Grassroot Change

Mentoring program pairs older African-Americans with young adults for encouragement, support and leadership. Mentors use approved curriculum, mentoring best practices, and their life experiences.

Phone: 502-9788 Web: www.grandfriendsmentoring.org

100 Black Men of Omaha

Young Men Mentoring Institute promotes postsecondary education, career exploration, goal setting and positive decision-making among African-American males in grades 9 to 12. Workshops focus on life skills, conflict resolution and personal development. Members of 100 Black Men serve as mentors.

Phone: 934-7065 Web: www.100blackmenomaha.org

Ruth K. Solomon Girls Center

This Heartland Family Service neighborhood center provides summer and after-school programs for girls ages 5 to 18, serving about 200 families in northeast Omaha. Most of the girls served are black and nearly all come from homes with annual incomes under $30,000 a year. Participants can earn scholarships for post-secondary education. Programs incorporate violence prevention, anti-bullying message and gang awareness.

Phone: 455-1755 Web:heartlandfamilyservice.org

TeamMates Mentoring Program

School-based mentoring program for grades three through 12. Mentors from the community meet once a week with youths to talk, play games, work on projects and help with homework. Once a youth is matched with a mentor, the goal is that the match will stay together through high school graduation. Mentors must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Phone: 877-531-8326 Web: www.teammates.org

WHERE ARE THE GAPS?

More mentors are needed, especially adults of color. The metro area's programs combined serve an estimated 3,000 children, half the number Building Bright Futures believes could be served. Young adults are often left out because most programs end at age 18. Of the 70 mentoring organizations, just a dozen meet national standards in best practices. There's a need for less-direct mentoring programs such as youth athletic leagues and night basketball.

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