“WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE do poorly in school? Why do young people use drugs, or hang out on street corners, or get pregnant? A common answer to these questions is that many teens have low self-esteem, generally defined as a poor sense of one’s worth or ability: a lack of confidence. Professional literature about adolescents, social service priorities, and funding trends all emphasize programs which build self-esteem.”

I saw this article on the website of Paul Kivel, an educator, activist and writer who is doing a training up in Truckee for their domestic violence partnership.  Read this thought provoking article and let us know what you think!

Ever wonder what that term means?  This is from our friends at the Sacramento Youth Development Network.  Check out their “Spark” fall training series!

Sierra Mentoring Partnership Introduces Youth Development Initiative

Nevada City, CA- August 21, 2011- Are all of Nevada County’s youth learning, working, thriving, connecting and contributing?  These are the five developmental areas identified by the Forum for Youth Investment, a Washington DC “action tank” dedicated to making sure all youth are Ready by 21®: ready for college, work and life.  On Tuesday, August 16, the Sierra Mentoring Partnership (SMP) hosted a partnership meeting with the Forum for Youth Investment via webinar at the Rood Center to introduce the Ready by 21® framework to Nevada County. Representatives from SMP, including The Friendship Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Child Advocates of Nevada County, Nevada County Health and Human Services, Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County and Foster Youth Services, and the Alliance for Wellbeing gathered for a webinar with the Forum and a follow up discussion led by Andy Paul of the Sacramento Youth Development Network (YDN).

“Too many Nevada County youth feel disconnected, disempowered, and that no one cares about them,” states Cristine Kelly, SMP’s Executive Director.   “Our statistics here mirror what is a national dilemma; 4 out of every 10 youth are not getting the supports they need to lead healthy productive lives.” SMP is leading the charge in Nevada County to develop a youth master plan, which would guide policy and program decisions in future years, and address outcomes for youth up to age 24 in five developmental areas. Ready by 21 is an approach that meets communities where they are at in order to move the dial forward on better outcomes for youth.   Ms. Kelly added, “The good news is that we have an incredible community that wants to make a difference for our youth as witnessed by our turnout for Tuesday’s meeting!”

SMP was created in 2009 by an effort between the County of Nevada and local non-profits as an innovative approach to solving some of the mentoring movement’s challenges.  Since then, SMP has become a backbone organization in support of youth development; providing advocacy, training, resource development and program support. “Essentially, we help programs and agencies connect and work towards a common agenda for youth,” states Ms. Kelly.  “  In order to do that, we need as a community to build a common language not just into visions and goals, but into planning statements.”

Inherent to SMP’s work is the inclusion of youth in the community decision-making process.  “Youth feel that adults, even well-meaning ones, don’t really think we have the interest or capacity to be involved in deciding what’s important to us.” says Matisse Geenty, Nevada Union High School senior.   It couldn’t be further from the truth, says Andy Paul, of the Sacramento YDN.  “Not only do youth have the capacity to be involved, they thrive when they have meaningful contributions and can create partnerships with adults.”  Nevada County’s Adult and Family Services Commission (AFSC), which is the advisory council to the Board of Supervisors, agrees.  In collaboration with SMP, the AFSC is nurturing the development of a countywide youth council.  For more information, contact SMP at info@sierramentoring.org, or call 530-265-2900.

The Sierra Mentoring Partnership will be joined by the Forum for Youth Investment of Washington D.C. via webinar to present an introduction and overview of the Ready by 21 Framework.   Ready by 21 is a strategy that helps communities improve the odds that all young people will be ready for work, college and life.  The first hour will be run with the Ready by 21 project staff, and the second hour is set for inspiring discussion, including talking about our new Youth Council!

When:  August 16th, 10:15am-12:30pm
Where:  Empire Room, Rood Center, 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City
Can’t make the meeting but want to attend the webinar:

Step 1:  Dial In:  866-740-1260

Step 2:  Web Login https://cc.readytalk.com/r/7welykv86228

Our friends at Community Support Network (CSN) have a great e-newsletter that is full of information about what’s happening for Nevada County youth and families.  Here’s their latest news, but do sign up to receive a copy in your inbox!

FREE Swim Lessons!

Penguin Swim Team offering free swim lessons

The Penguin Swim Team and the Welz Foundation are partnering to offer no cost swim lessons to at-risk youth in Nevada County.  The California Department of Boating and Waterways reports that water related deaths in the United States rank second for accidental deaths of young people. The club hopes to sink those odds by promoting swimming skills through the Penguin Swim Team program while offering a fun and engaging summer activity.  In Nevada County, an area with abundant recreational swimming and boating opportunities, it is particularly important that our kids have a basic foundation of swimming skills.

The Penguin Swim lesson program emphasizes comfort and safety in and around the water.  The classes are small and are based on the USA Swimming standards.  The “learn to swim” program is run by Heidi Kirkpatrick, a former Penguin Swimmer and Nevada Union High School student.  Instructors are USA Certified Swimming Coaches, or under the supervision of certified coaches.  Most instructors are current or former Penguin swimmers.

The 2 week lessons begin on July 18 and run through July 29^th at the Nevada Union High School Pool in Grass Valley.  Interested families and organizations will need to register for the lessons prior to July 15.  To take advantage of this Welz Foundation program, contact the Penguins at 530-265-DIVE or www.penguinswim.org for more information.

The Penguin Swim Team began in 1968 as a small year round swimming program for youth. The program has grown over the years and now includes 5 levels of year round swim instruction, summer swim lessons, stroke and turn clinics and an adult Masters Swim Program.  The program also supports the community by offering job experience for local college and high school students who teach and coach the younger swimmers.

More and more calls for mentoring programs are being voiced as the life changing effects of caring adults in a supported match with a young person are documented.  In Nevada County, homegrown programs such as The Friendship Club as well as the national model (although entirely locally funded) Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County, can make the difference between a young person falling through the cracks or becoming a healthy and contributing member of our community.  And the costs associated with the former are astronomical in comparison:  teen pregnancy,  juvenile incarceration, dropping out of school, all have inherent economic impact on our community.  And while most  mentoring  in Nevada County is locally funded through private donations, we are struggling to keep up with the demand for services.

Recently, the House passed H.R. 1, a long-term Continuing Resolution that will cut government programs by $100 billion for the rest of this fiscal year. This bill eliminates the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) which funds Americorps, would zero out funding for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners program for the remainder of the fiscal year and cuts Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) funding by 45 percent. OJJDP has been on the forefront of supporting mentoring programs because they know that it keeps kids out of the juvenile justice system.

Representative Tom McClintock has voted against funding for these critical programs.  H.R. 1 -Continuing Resolution Financing the Government, which while it posits is trying to get government spending under control, will severely impact critical mentoring and education programs for our youth.  Sierra Mentoring Partnership urges you to consider what education and mentoring mean to the youth of our community, and if you are so moved, please contact Mr. McClintock’s office, as well as the office of Senator Barbara Boxer and voice your support for our young people.

All the Best,

Cristine

This from our friends at Nevada County Public Health

ATTENTION Adults and Parents! The Nevada County Public Health Department Youth Development Programs, including Friday Night Live, are teaming up with local youth and adults to gain support for a Social Host Ordinance focused on preventing underage drinking. The Ordinance will increase the penalties for adults who are found contributing to underage drinking. It will appeal to the larger community as a reminder that it is adults’ responsibility to ensure that youth in their lives will not have access to alcohol. We need your support. Please follow this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R9JSD96 to join the Adults COMMITTED to Youth campaign and pledge to not provide youth access to alcohol. The attachment provided will explain more about the campaign and can be used as a tool for individual families to further commit to the campaign in their own homes. Please feel free to forward this email and help spread the word. For more information, to get involved in this campaign or to access these printed materials please call:  Shannon Glaz, Nevada County Public Health Department Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coordinator 500 Crown Point Circle, Suite 110 Grass Valley, Ca 95945 530-265-1451 Thank you!

PRESS RELEASE

2011 marks the tenth anniversary of National Mentoring Month, a time designed to highlight the power and possibilities of youth mentoring.  Here in Nevada County, there is a pressing need for adults to step forward and provide a little support and encouragement for our community youth.

“Mentoring is a powerful tool for helping kids succeed in life.” states Cristine Kelly, the Executive Director of the Sierra Mentoring Partnership (SMP), a local community collaborative focused on youth development.  “Too many Nevada County youth feel disconnected, disempowered, and that no one cares about them.”   Many of these youth are considered to be at-risk.  And while the term can define a number of family risk factors such as poverty and single parenthood, or low parent education levels, all of these have been shown to undermine children’s development.   “In our local mentored youth, we are seeing marked increases in self-esteem; significant reductions in school absence; better school attitudes and grades; and less drug and alcohol abuse.”  Since 2009, SMP has been evaluating local mentoring programs in order to assess their effectiveness and impact.  Programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County and The Friendship Club are making a big impact in kid’s lives.  Ms. Kelly wrapped it up succinctly, “All young people have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society, but they can’t get there without help along the way.  Mentors can be the catalyst to helping a young person believe they can achieve their dreams. ”

Research has found that mentoring brings about profound positive change in the way that young people feel about themselves and how they view their world.  But the rewards of mentoring aren’t just for the kids.  Mentors lives also are enriched, by sharing knowledge and experience, meeting new people, and making new friends.  “Being a mentor has been such an incredibly rewarding experience,” says Francesca Erickson, a Friendship Club Angel. “Being there for someone is the most important thing we can offer anyone–to let them know that they matter.”

SMP was created by an effort between the County of Nevada and local non-profits as an innovative approach to solving some of the mentoring movement’s challenges: recruitment, training, resource development and program support.  SMP’s goal is to create awareness regarding the need for mentors as well as how each of us- individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and non-profits- can work together to assure bright futures for our young people.   “There is a place for everyone to mentor, whether through a formal program or simply in our daily lives.” says Ms. Kelly.

Check out this interesting article on teaching teens how to deal with stress.