Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest recently received a $350,000 grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to fund GoodGuides, a mentoring program that pairs teens (ages 12-17) with mentors who help them build career plans and skills, as well as prepare for school completion, post-secondary training and productive work.
According to a press release, the grant enables Goodwill to serve 120 youth throughout Spokane County, through 2016.
GoodGuides focuses on small group mentoring, providing one mentor paired with four youth between seventh and 12th grades, four hours a month. Mentoring groups will focus on building careers awareness, including helping students to identify careers that tap into their interests. Mentors also help youth increase those basic life skills that will assist with job readiness, such as timeliness, proper work attire, and other basics, according to a press release.
Each month, GoodGuides groups in Spokane will focus on structured career awareness activities, such site visits with Spokane area employers. Sherri Richardson, GoodGuides program manager, stated she is excited about the opportunities that business leaders in the county have to offer students.
GoodGuides is currently recruiting for mentors throughout Spokane County.
“We are looking for mentors who care about youth, and are willing and excited to commit 4 hours a month to being a friend and a guide,” said Jim Tate, master mentor for the GoodGuides program.
The program is specifically seeking business leaders in a variety of industries. Goodwill is also seeking businesses to sponsor food for mentoring sessions.
For more information about getting involved, or becoming a GoodGuides mentor call 509-444-4309.
