Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Woodbine Iowa is a participant in the Northwest Area Foundation's, Horizons Program, which develops community leadership and works to reduce poverty in communities with populations below 5000 and a poverty rate above 10%. In the 2000 census, Woodbine had a population of 1564 and a poverty rate of 10.4%. Throughout 2007, ISU Extension facilitated Woodbine's active involvement in Horizons activities including Study Circles, Leadership Plenty training, Action Forums, and Community Visioning. During this time, community members identified and prioritized needs with committees then being formed to take action on the ideas. One of the prioritized identified needs was a youth mentoring program. It was hoped that such a program would lead to youth receiving support and guidance from a caring adult and thus showing improvement in academic achievement, attendance, discipline, and interpersonal relationships.

Response:
Representatives from a Horizons action team took the idea of a youth mentoring program to the Woodbine Schools Board of Education in April 2007. They enthusiastically embraced the idea and voted to support the program during the 2007-2008 school year by hiring a Mentoring Program Coordinator. A local advisory board was then established and they moved forward and became affiliated , which was with the nationally recognized youth mentoring program, TeamMates started by former Nebraska Football Coach Tom Osborne. The committee solicited and received funds from local community organizations including Optimist, Kiwanis, Applefest Committee, and churches, as well as private donations. The program coordinator position was advertised, interviews held, and a coordinator was hired. As the 2007 school year began, the program coordinator and advisory program. From September board attended the required training from the Teammates – December 2007, the program coordinator received applications from potential adult mentors and nominations for mentees that were elementary school aged. The process then began of doing the paperwork and background checks on the adult mentors and matching up them up with youth mentees. The advisory board set of goal of having 20 mentor/mentee matches by April 1, 2008.

Impact:
In December 2007, there were 11 mentor/mentee matches meeting regularly during the school day, with 5 more matches in progress. The program coordinator reports that the program is going very well and shared the following quotes from the participants: Adult mentor, “I have really enjoyed meeting with my mentee. did a great job matching us up. I'm looking forward to the next 5 TeamMates years together.” Youth mentee, “I like my mentor, she's nice.” Youth mentee, “It is a very useful program.” To celebrate National Mentoring Month and to program, mentors/mentees attended a high school recognize Woodbine's TeamMates t-shirts. The advisory board basketball game together and wore their TeamMates also set up a display to promote the mentoring program and acquired three new potential mentors that evening. The advisory board is currently working on a grant from the Iowa Department of Health to support continuation of the youth mentoring program in Woodbine.

Other Staff Involved:
Clint McDonald, Harrison County Extensin Education Director, 712-644-2105, clint@iastate.edu

Contact:
Mary Beth Kaufman
Shelby County Extension
906 6th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
712-755-3104
mbkaufma@iastate.edu