Site and Center Hosted by

Western Nevada College

Volunteer Center Member

Western Nevada Partner

The National Mentoring Partnership

Community Partner

It's fun, it's flexible. It's making a difference!

Goals of Mentoring
	Self Confidence
	Social Competence
	Caring
. . . For all our youth!

Discover how YOU can make a difference!

The Mentor Center is a community-supported center that matches young people with adult and older teen role models. The program is modeled after Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

A Mentor is someone who participates in a youth's life and show that they care, can give the youth a different perspective of the world, and help create opportunities to enable the youth to make better life choices.

Does mentoring really work?

A study by an independent research firm concluded that matched "mentees" were:

• 46% less likely to initiate drug use
• 27% less likely to initiate alcohol use
• likely to have better relationships with peers and adults
• likely to skip half as many school days
• 33% less likely to engage in violence

How does it work?

Once the carefully screened volunteers are approved as Mentors, they are matched with youth who could benefit by having other caring people in their lives. Professional staff monitors all matches, and match objectives are designed to help both Mentees and Mentors gain the most from their relationships.

How do I become a Mentor?

Potential volunteers contact the agency office to arrange to have an informational packet and application mailed to them. Volunteers must be at lest 18 years old and willing to commit to seeing their Mentees for an agreed upon frequency of contact for twelve months. Volunteers must have lived in the area for at least six months unless they have moved here with the military, their current employer, or as a university student. Fingerprinting and a thorough background check are completed on all potential mentors. Orientation and ongoing training is provided to all mentors.

How does a youth become a Mentee?

The Center targets children from grades K - 12 in Carson City. The youth's parent, legal guardian, teacher, or counselor should contact the agency and request an application. Matches are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Parental and/or guardian support as well as willingness on the youth's part, is mandatory for involvement in the program.

Who controls and manages The Mentor Center?

The Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada administers the Mentor Center. An Advisory Task Force made up of volunteers representing the various youth agencies in the community work to develop policies. The overall operations of the Center are monitored by Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada.

How is the agency funded?

Funding for the Center comes from a federal grant administered by CCOY (Community Council On Youth) and annual financial and "in kind" commitments from Carson City, the Carson City School District, and WNC.

Let me close with a quote from Secretary of State General Colin Powell:

Children learn from adults. They learn from listening to them, and from watching them. If they have the right kind of adults in their lives, then they'll go the right way. They will become children of character. Sometimes, we need to bring in other adults to help with that character development process, to point that kid in the right direction.

To find out if you might like to volunteer as a certified mentor, see the Mentor-Volunteer Program Guidelines for more specifics.

Where is the Center located?

The office for the Mentor Center is housed at Western Nevada College. We are presently located in the Reynolds Building, Room 104B, at the south end of the campus. You can reach the Center Director, Ruth Gordon, by calling 775-445-3346. The fax number is 775-445-3160.

Address:

Mentor Center of Western Nevada
Western Nevada College
Reynolds Building, Room 104B
P.O. Box 2740
Carson City, NV 89702