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What is Adams County Connections?Adams County Connections is a program for the middle school students of Adams County District 50. It was created by Peer Assistance Services through funding made available by the US Department of Education. Through Adams County Connections, students volunteer to be matched with a mentor who serves as an adult friend and role model. Mentors and their student “mentees” meet for a minimum of eight hours per month and mentees participate in weekly tutoring with program staff.
What is a mentor?A mentor is an adult who has patience and experience, who is fun to hang out with, and who is interested in spending time with a young person. A mentor offers extra support and guidance for school and life and is another adult for a youth to talk to. A mentor can help his or her mentee set positive goals for the future and will work with a mentee to get on the path to attaining those goals. A mentor is a friend and a positive role model. Mentors are not stand-ins for parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, godparents, or any other family members; they are adult friends. Most importantly, a mentor is someone to have FUN with!
Why has my son or daughter been contacted to participate?Someone at your child’s school thought that he or she would enjoy having a mentor in his or her life. Mentors can help your child with schoolwork, educational goals, and help him or her to discover new interests and experiences.
How do I know the mentor is safe?All Adams County Connections mentors go through a rigorous interview and screening process, including an application, 3–4 personal and professional references, a personal interview with a program coordinator, two hours of training (plus ongoing trainings throughout the match period), and an extensive background check (including CBI, FBI, fingerprints, sex offender, and DMV). Additionally, program staff are in constant contact with mentees, families, and mentors to ensure that all is well with the match.
What role do I get to play in the match?Adams County Connections invites parents and guardians to be a part of the mentoring program. You can be a partner with your child’s mentor. Take the time to get to know your child’s mentor and help support the relationship through communication. By doing this, you will be helping your child to form a more productive relationship with his or her mentor and you will be strengthening your own relationship with your child in the process. You and the mentor can serve as a team to help your child set and attain his or her goals; stay in contact with the mentor!
What sorts of activities will my child do with a mentor?Mentoring matches can do almost anything they can think of! Many matches enjoy doing things outdoors, such as kicking a soccer ball or throwing a Frisbee in the park, going for a hike, walking a dog, or shooting baskets. Mentors often help their mentees with homework or school projects, and most enjoy doing this at libraries, college campuses, or coffee shops. Matches can explore the city, watch a play or a professional sports game, go bowling or swimming, bake cookies, or talk on the phone. The sky is the limit! Adams County Connections provides matches with free tickets to cultural and sporting events in the Denver metro area, as well as free or low-cost activity ideas, group match outings, life skills trainings, and community service projects.
What are the goals of this program?Our goal is to help your child be successful in school, to resist taking drugs or participating in unhealthy activities, feel better about him or herself, and to teach them how to reach out and help others.
What if I need help?You and your child will be assigned a program coordinator to help support you and the mentor through the match period. This coordinator will be in routine contact with mentors, mentees, and families to ensure that everyone is safe and happy with the match. You will receive personal and work numbers and e-mail addresses for your coordinator, as well as numbers for outside resources, including school counselors and community resources.
How can I get my child involved?If you are interested:
Dusty Teng, Mentoring Program Coordinator
dteng@peerassist.org
303.995.7060 (Direct)
303.369.0039 x208
Meagan Brncick, Mentoring Program Coordinator
mbrncick@peerassist.org
303.995.7060 (Direct)
303.369.0039 x222
Or visit our office: Hodgkins Middle School, 3475 W 67th Avenue, Denver.
