VIP Mentoring has been instrumental in breaking the cycle of truancy, dependency, abuse and incarceration for at-risk children and adults for more than 35 years. Description of Program
For more than 35 years, The VIP Mentoring Program has provided young adults and students with a unique opportunity to receive an array of mentoring from a diverse group of adults. This includes weekly one-to-one m
entoring by an adult, monthly career exposure mentoring by a variety of business partners, and monthly college positive mentoring by a diverse group of university partners. By connecting youth with diverse groups of adults, we instill knowledge and relationship skills in youth that will support graduating from high school and being prepared for college, career and life. The program was piloted in 2013-2014 school year at Central Collegiate High School with enormous success. Description of Outcomes
The outcomes established for students who participate in the VIP Mentoring Career Exposure and College Positive Mentoring Program were designed to support increased high school graduation rates and help students to be prepared for college, career and life. Outcomes for students participating in the VIP Career Exposure and College Positive mentoring program include the following: Students will demonstrate an increased interest and improved knowledge in the areas of higher education, vocational options and career interest; Students will have developed a preliminary college/career plan; Students will demonstrate improved relationship skills. To measure these outcomes, pre- and post-survey tools have been developed and will be used along with a preliminary college/career plan template. Since launching our Career Exposure program in 2013, 144 students have participated in the project with 43 of the 50 12th grade students graduating from high school. We continue to work with 75 students of which 14 are high school seniors and on track to graduate in 2017. We have lost track of 19 students since the start of the program in 2013. Reasons for losing students include moving schools or homes without new information. Last year, 86% of our students graduated from high school. The remaining 14% left the district or cannot be located. Best Practice Partners (Positive Behavior; College & Career Readiness)
VIP Mentoring fits within United Way’s Best Practice work for two reasons. First, we piloted a results-oriented mentoring program at Central Collegiate High School that impacts two areas: Positive Behavior and College & Career Readiness. At Central, we established the “VIP Mentoring College and Career Center.” Second, VIP Mentoring is progressing through a National Quality Based Mentoring certification process under the direction of the State of Michigan. When the process is completed this summer, VIP Mentoring will be only one of three organizations in Michigan accredited in providing Quality Based Mentoring, which has been demonstrated through research to support increased school attendance and academic performance, which are two United Way Best Practice impact areas.
