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for Center School District
Request an application and background check forms. You can do this by contacting Kelly Wachel, YouthFriends Coordinator, at 816.349.3730 or kwachel AT center.k12.mo DOT us .
Complete a volunteer interview and training at Central Office, located at 8701 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO.
YouthFriends connects caring adult volunteers with young people in schools to encourage success, promote healthy behaviors and build stronger communities.
YouthFriends began in January 1995, as a pilot effort in six metro Kansas City school districts. Today, 94 school districts participate in YouthFriends in Greater Kansas City and the surrounding area and in Kansas. In the fall of 2000 eight pilot school districts in Michigan joined YouthFriends.
YouthFriends meets the needs of both students and volunteers. Actually, the effort came about as a result of focus groups among young people. They said to become successful, they needed more caring, positive adult role models involved in their lives. Additionally, YouthFriends provides a starting place for adults who want to volunteer with young people, but don’t know where to begin.
Volunteers meet with their YouthFriends on a regular basis. Volunteers can help with school work, read with a student, or just talk. The program is designed for stduents to have a mentor and positive role model in their lives.
As a YouthFriends volunteer you might read with a first grader, share lunch with a new friend, help seventh graders with a special project or offer career guidance to a high school senior. YouthFriends are good role models, they enjoy young people, they're good listeners, but most of all they know how to be a friend.
YouthFriends accommodates the busy schedules of today’s volunteers.
- Volunteer with a group or one-to-one.
- Choose the age groups you enjoy.
- Select a school location close to home or work.
- Commit for as little as one hour a week for four weeks, a semester, a school year or more.
Studies show the presence of a positive adult role model in a young person’s life:
- Builds confidence
- Encourages kids to set and achieve goals
- Helps young people succeed
An engaged community helping young people to succeed.
YouthFriends connects young people with caring adult volunteers in schools to promote success, encourage healthy behaviors and build stronger communities.
The best youth development efforts strengthen community and encourage all to participate. Schools, as community focal points, are ideal locations to link young people with caring adults. At its core, YouthFriends is about engaging communities to help young people succeed by engaging adults in volunteerism with youth.
www.youthfriends.org
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