Kristina Darris Proposal

Proposal for Keeping Youths at Risk out of Trouble One million students will fail to graduate high school this year. 329,772 youths between the ages of 15-19 will have a child. Juveniles are responsible for 40% of all crimes, and make up 26% of gang members. Not all Youths are the same. They come from a variety of backgrounds and hardships. Many of the youths that are at risk for dropping out, pregnancy, drug use, and criminal activity come from high poverty areas, unstable families, socially disorganized neighborhoods, and lack participation in the community. Youths today are without a positive influence in their lives. Some do not know any other way of life. Without guidance, motivation, and mentorship they will continue to make poor choices and turn to a life of crime. Proposal and Objective I propose that school districts provide mentorship programs into their school systems. School districts should set aside time where someone is consistently checking up on students wellbeing. I also propose that coaches, directors, and instructors of extra- curricular activities set and stick with stricter grade criteria, codes of conduct, and policies for their participants. They must also provide an enriching environment and be an advocate for their participants. Plan of Action

School is where the youth of our nation spend about 30-40% of their time. School district should add mentorship programs into schools. A mentorship resource may not be available to them otherwise. School districts should set aside time at least once a week where students are able to meet with a mentor, counselor, or trusted teacher and reflect on their academic performance and home life. It could be in the form of an advisory period where students are spending at least 45 minutes with a mentor. During these session students should be able to find a mentor that best suits their individual needs. It could be a tutor if they are having problems with homework, a counselor if they are having emotional problems, or just someone to hang out with and talk to. Mentors can be an advocate between teachers and students or anyone the student may be having a problem with. The Youths need a caring mentor in their lives to confide in, look up to, and help them with any problems they may be facing at home or at school. The most important thing is that the mentor supports and positively influences the student. The mentors should provide the youths with an environment they feel safe at and encourage them to become more successful at school, avoid risky behaviors, and set higher aspirations for themselves. Coaches and extra-curricular activity instructors will push students to have academic success and avoid risk behaviors by using activities as a privilege. They will set a high grade standard for their participants that is reachable. For example requiring students to maintain a 2.5 Grade point Average, Citizenship point average and have no failing grades (Fs) or failing citizenship points (0s). Instructors and Coaches will also set a code of conduct for each participant. For example no participating in drinking, drugs, or use of foul language. Setting
Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization that provides mentorship for youths facing adversity. They reported that after spending just a few short months with a mentor, youths were 46% less likely to begin using alcohol, 27% were less likely to use illegal drugs, and 52% were less likely to skip school.

these standards will make students responsible for their grades and how they present their selves. If these requirements are not met students will no longer be eligible to participate in the activity. Students will have their extracurricular activities to motivate them to hold their selves to a higher standard. Not only will Coaches and Instructors have their participants hold themselves to a higher standard; they will also regularly check in on their participants. Most of the time students trust and look up to their coaches. Coaches should use this to their advantage and motivate their students to stay out of trouble and do well in school.
Management Plan

Adding mentors into school programs will cost nothing. School districts can find mentors in over 60 different non-profit organizations that specialize in mentoring youths. Mentors can be teachers, older students, and community leaders. There are also many leadership teams in Colleges, and high schools that pride themselves on helping students achieve and reach their full potential. Obtaining mentor resources is just a matter of reaching out. If funds are needed schools can fundraise and incorporate students into the fundraising project. This will give them a chance Percentage of All Youths in school based mentorship programs who maintained or improved in the specific areas
100.00% 95.00%

to participate in something positive and continue to bond with their mentor. Coaches and extra- curricular instructors need only decide a fitting criteria for their participants. Desired Outcomes

90.00% 85.00% 80.00% 75.00% SocioAvoidance Educational Emotional of Risky Success Competence Behaviors School Based Programs

Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular

basis (Zig Zaglar). The first goal of my proposal is to see a change in students behavior. With regular mentorship we will see a decrease in risky behavior, dropout rates, teen pregnancy, and crime as shown in the graph to the left. Students will begin to see the possibilities for themselves, dream bigger, have a stronger drive, and higher aspirations. With the help of their mentor students will be able to have better relationships with parents and peers. We will be able to catch kids while they are young and stop them from going down the wrong path. Final Thoughts It is very important that youths who face adversity find someone or something that can motivate them. Many of todays youths will go through their life with no one to show them any other path but the bad one they are going down. Many parents whose children are participating in drugs, gangs, alcohol, and sexual activity do not know who can help their children. Mentors provide students with support, motivation, and positive influence. They serve as advocates, counselors, tutors, friends, and whatever else a student may need. With positive influence youths have a more positive and sustained outcome. They have a better chance of turning to a life of gangs, drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, and crime. By adding mentorship programs in schools, youths will have a chance for change that otherwise might not be provided to them elsewhere. By adding mentorship and setting higher standards in sports and extra-curricular activities, youths will have a motivation factor behind their positive outcome. Overall having a mentor will help the youths of our nation to change for the better and set higher standards, higher aspirations and positive goals.

"Big Brothers Big Sisters." Big Brothers Big Sisters. N.p., 2013. Web. 29. Oct. 2013. <http://www.bbbs.org/>. "Preventing Gang Affiliation by Increasing Protective Factors." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Jan. 2012. Web. Oct. 2013. Rhodes, Jean. "Youth Outcome Survey." YOS. BBBS, 4 Jan. 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. <Dr. Jean Rhodes, University of Massachusetts Boston - See more at: http://www.bbbs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx? Richmond, Emily. "High School Graduation Rate ." The Atlantic. The Atlantic, 6 June 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. Sokolosky, Valerie. 2013. Www.valerieandcompany.com. Valerie & Company Blog. Valerie Sokolosky, 28 Feb. 2012. Web. 1 Nov. 2011. "Teen Birth." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 05 Aug. 2013. Web. 08 Oct. 2013. Ziglar, Zig. Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World. Nashville: Oliver Nelson, 1985. N. pag. Print.