Washington State Mentors Programs
Leadership
We provide a public voice for reducing risk among our state’s youth through the use of data and analysis from evidence-based mentoring programs.
Services
We improve the quality of mentoring programs by identifying their needs and assets, building upon strengths and addressing weaknesses through training and technical assistance.
Resources
We reduce the cost of operating a mentoring program by directing charitable dollars towards programs and providing assistance with otherwise costly tasks such as mentor recruitment.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In 2010 Washington State Mentors was awarded a federal grant to help build capacity among mentoring programs serving at-risk youth in three Washington State counties, including King County. As a result of this grant, WSM will invest nearly $250,000 in mentoring programs enabling them to make almost 200 new matches, pairing youth who are facing multiple risk factors with positive, caring, and thoroughly trained mentors. King County and the Seattle area will receive the most significant support.
Unrestricted operating funds are crucial. The mentoring programs that WSM supports are struggling more than ever to make and sustain more mentor and mentee matches. For many of the mentoring programs WSM provides a safety net that keeps them going. The training and capacity building services that WSM specializes in are even more crucial during times of resource constraint. An increase in WSM’s general operating funding will directly impact the number of trainings we provide.