Mary Beth Williams
Mentoring Coordinator, Project Connect
HELPING CHILDREN MOVE FORWARD
Project Connect is a mentoring collaboration among the Des Moines Public Schools, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Des Moines Area Religious Council. Spending just one hour a week with a child who needs a mentor is proving to make a remarkable difference in the academics, attendance, and attitude of the child who is falling behind.
The children we reach are "at risk" which means they are falling behind and many of them live at or below poverty levels - it’s a little known fact that 57% of children in the Des Moines public schools live in families which are at or below the poverty level. The children who participate in this program have chosen to do so – they want a mentor.
The mentors spend one hour a week during the school day on the school property to be an adult friend, listen, visit, play games and do schoolwork together. Project Connect has successfully matched more than 190 caring adults with 4th-8th grade children, but hundreds of children are waiting for help.
Children participating in Project Connect:
missed 20 days of school in 2005-2006, reduced that by at least 10 or more days in 2006-2007
93% reported they more look forward to coming to school after being matched with a mentor;
92% receiving suspensions in 05-06 reduced the incidence of suspensions in 2006-2007;
in 2007, 63% of Project Connect students who scored in the developing range on the ITBS reading test increased their score, demonstrating more than one year’s growth in a single year.
Project Connect is the only mentoring program in the metro area that is staffed with school personnel. This allows for a very careful and detailed monitoring of a student’s progress, absences, and suspension rates. The professional school personnel review grades and any behavior concerns, which translates into coordinating appropriate help through the mentor, teacher, other school professionals, and parents.
We find Drake students, retirees, and professionals, among others, are finding participation in Project Connect to be very meaningful as well as fun. After a required beginning orientation and training, optional and free ongoing training is provided. All mentors are subject to thorough background checks prior to being matched with a student. The schedule is arranged for the mentor’s convenience – e.g., day of the week, time of day, school, and the age of the child. If you’d like more information or would like to learn how to sign up to become a mentor, please call Mary Beth Williams at 339-1701 at the Des Moines Area Religious Council or email her at mbwilliams@dmreligious.org.