Community Service: Partners
  

Penny Bieber (left), Program Director; Debbie Channel (center), Executive Director; Jerry Berebitsky (right), Case Manager

    "We are always looking for compassionate, caring adult mentors who can provide friendship, guidance and understanding to at-risk area youth," says Debbie Channel, Executive Director for Partners in Huerfano/Las Animas Counties.  "We have 31 mentoring partnerships today, but we have 30 more kids who are waiting for a mentor!"

   Partners is a community-based, non-profit organization that promotes positive change in youth through a one-to-one mentoring relationship with an adult role model.  Adult mentors (Senior Partners) and youth (Junior Partners) commit to spending at least three hours a week together, having fun and learning new skills over a one-year period.  Partners matches each volunteer with a youth who shares similar interests.

   Senior Partners receive extensive screening and training prior to being matched to a young person, and on-going support from a Partners case manager.  The organization also provides monthly recreational activities and bi-monthly life skills workshops as well as ongoing volunteer training.  "National research indicates that youth matched in year-long relationships with adult volunteer mentors are less likely to become involved in drugs and alcohol, less likely to skip school or commit violent acts, and more likely to show improvements in school performance and relationships with friends," according to Penny Bieber, Program Director.  "One-to-one partnerships help children realize their potential, set goals and attain them."

   In addition to volunteer opportunities for one-to-one mentors, Partners has opportunities for adults who can't commit to spending three hours a week as a volunteer.  Partners Plus volunteers spend a few hours a month with Junior Partners who are waiting to be matched with a Senior Partner chaperoning planned group activities such as fishing, kayaking, attending Sky Sox games and educational field trips.

   If you'd like to give something meaningful back to your community by providing a local youth with a better chance to succeed in today's world, or to learn more about the Partners program, please call the Las Animas County Partners Office or the Huerfano County Office.