Avery Mentoring Program

# Participants

Current Value

158

2023

Definition

Research on child development has revealed that the presence of one safe, stable, and nurturing caregiver or adult can change the trajectory of a child’s entire life. This is because a supportive relationship with a trustworthy adult can buffer children against trauma and help them develop the resilience to overcome adversity. 80% of youth served by mentoring live in a kinship placement, single-parent home, foster or adoptive home. 100% of our youth report that their mentor helps them feel good about themselves. This is important because having an adult that makes you feel safe and confident is a leading protective factor against childhood trauma. Over 100 youth want a mentor but remain on the waiting list. The need is critically high for young men.

Research on child development has revealed that the presence of one safe, stable, and nurturing caregiver or adult can change the trajectory of a child’s entire life. This is because a supportive relationship with a trustworthy adult can buffer children against trauma and help them&nbsp;<a href="https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/resilience/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">develop the resilience</a>&nbsp;to overcome adversity.&nbsp;80%&nbsp;of youth served by mentoring live in a kinship placement, single-parent home, foster or adoptive home.&nbsp;&nbsp;100%&nbsp;of our youth report that their mentor helps them feel good about themselves. This is important because having an adult that makes you feel safe and confident is a leading protective factor against childhood trauma.&nbsp; Over 100 youth want a mentor but remain on the waiting list. The need is critically high for young men.

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Story Behind the Measure

What's Helping:

Big Brothers Big Sisters, is working. Kids are being empowered
Cooperation of schools and local trade of art businesses
Local Agency support

What's Hurting:

Lack of funding
Lack of participation
Lack of Mentors to volunteer for kids
Lack of activities to engage kids in

What Works to Do Better? (Performance)

Turn the Curve Thinking: When the Avery County Healthy Carolinians meet, they brainstormed and prioritized ideas that were generated. Here are some of those ideas they are working toward for the future:

Achieve nutrition equity and use as part of the solution to achieving good health for all. Everyone deserves to be healthy, and one way to support that is by ensuring all children, families and communities have access to wholesome, nutritious foods.

Supporting places where people live, learn, work, play and gather with healthy options because everywhere affects overall health and quality of life. These environmental conditions and social determinants of health contribute to health outcomes and partially explain why some are healthier than others. Even honing in on one aspect of health—nutrition—will require multisector support at all levels to ensure all people are able to access healthy foods and nutrition education, which play an important role in supporting healthier children, families and communities.

Encouraging consumption of fruit, vegetables, milk and dairy and whole grains while reducing consumption of highly processed foods that are high in calories but lacking vital nutrients will go a long way in improving overall health and well-being.

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.