History

History of Valley Mentoring

The first Mentoring program of the Valley Community Coalition was call “Across Ages.” This program is no longer in existence, and had much stricter regulations on the ages of mentors and mentees who could participate in the program.



In 2005 “Valley Mentoring” began which broadened the ages of mentors and mentees who could participate. At this time, an Advisory Group was established and funding was secured through the Iowa Department of Public Health through a partnership with Helping Services for Northeast Iowa. The program has seen many changes since and continues to evolve but the initial goals of the program remain:

• To help strengthen youth by placing positive adult role models in their lives.
• Reduce drug and alcohol abuse among our youth.
• Help nurture and support current matches throughout the year.

History of North Fayette Mentoring

Mentoring made its return to North Fayette in 2007, when North Fayette was included in a grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health through a partnership with Helping Services for Northeast Iowa. The initial Steering Committee was formed and a coordinator was hired soon after and matches began to be made. From the initial meeting, some basic program tenets were created:

• The primary focus of the mentoring relationship shall be to form a relationship with a caring adult – not be a tutor or career consultant;
• Funding shall always be available to mentors to use with their mentee so that no mentor will feel they cannot be a mentor because they can’t afford it; and
• Positive role models are very important to our youth.
• Mission/Goals