The mentoring program was developed from the philosophy that through a strong foundation of caring and stable relations with positive adults, children are able to develop strong values,  personal skills, and increase self-esteem,  and clarification of future goals. 

• Dunn County School Mentoring programs involves children in grades K-12 in Dunn County area schools who have been identified as struggling with or losing interest in some aspect of their school life and could benefit from early intervention.  These children are matched with adult volunteers from the community who will meet with them once a week at school for one class period.

Objectives:

• Offer support and guidance to students
• Encourage and promote responsible thinking and actions; support education in the schools as a building block for a better future.
• Explore and identify individual strengths, facilitate involvement between parents, schools and community.
• Participating Schools:
  Elementary School: Cedar Falls, Downsville, Knapp, Oaklawn, River Heights, Wakanda, Tiffamy Creek and Mounds View
  Middle School: Menomonie Middle, Boyceville Middle, and Colfax Middle
  High School: Menomonie High, Boyceville High, Elk Mound High, and Colfax High.

Criteria for the Dunn County Mentor Program Youth Involvement:          

• Current K-12 enrollment in a Dunn County School District (Menomonie, Boyceville, Colfax, Elk Mound)
• Student wishes to participate in program

• Parent consents to youth involved in program

Youth are referred to the Mentoring Program were there are concerns with at least one of the following: 

Losing interest in school, needing academic improvement, experiencing a traumatic event which may affect student performance or attitude toward school (parent divorce, death in the family, or moved to new school), and/or inconsistently meeting school expectations (attendance, teacher/student relationships).

• Students are selected for the program based upon teacher and counselor recommendations and parent requests.
• Parents give permission for the student to be matched with a mentor.
• Volunteer mentors are recruited from the community and matched with selected students.
• Each mentor/student pair will meet once a week at school for one class period.
• The mentor may share concerns, progress, and ideas with program staff, and mentors, teachers, and counselor.
• Program staff as well as teachers and counselors are available to the mentor as a resource.

For more information concerning the Dunn County School Mentoring Program or other mentor programs contact: 

• Jamie Lawrence-Olson of  Positive Alternatives, Inc.        715-235-9552 or jlawrence-olson@positive-alternatives.org
• Gary Johnson -Menomonie Area School Social Worker 715-232-1642

• Each individual is valued and possesses the potential for success and self-sufficiency.
• A key to success for most people is that someone saw potential in them and encouraged them to develop that potential.
• Mentors encourage independence not dependence-stimulating the individual's ability to think, consider options, make sound decisions and trust one's own judgment.
• The community is a rich resource of caring individuals who can be effective in providing personal support as well as encouragement.

• Volunteers contact us one of two ways
  1.  Sign up for class (university) credit -- Professor then passes list on to us and we call to set up interview
  2.  Call us directly to set up interview (715-235-9552)
•   PAI@Positive-Alternative.org  
  Positive Alternatives, Inc.
  Dunn County School Mentoring Program
  603 Terrill Road
  Menomonie, WI    54751

Step 2.  Initial Contact

• At initial phone contact we ask for your SS# and begin background check and set up the interview time. 
  

Step 3. Interview 

• Forms are handed out and explained at the interview.
  1.  Availability Schedule
  2.  Mentor PROFILE
  3.  Volunteer REFERENCE REQUEST

Step 4. The interview  

• The Interview will take about 30 minutes.  After the Interview, we will arrange a convenient Training time for the prospective mentor.  Training will focus on Program Objective, Communication and Asset Development. 

If you have any questions about this process, please call Positive Alternatives, Inc. at 715-235-9552.

Thank you for your interest,
Jamie Lawrence-Olson and Megan Weibel