WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

Make a Difference in a Youth’s Life! 

The ECU Dropout Prevention Grant Project needs YOU.

Today’s youth are faced with many difficult situations.  Providing troubled and at risk high school students with adult mentors has proven to be a successful strategy for youth.

Smithfield Selma High School and North Johnston High School

will benefit this fall from a dropout prevention grant sponsored by East Carolina University with support from the Johnston County Schools Dropout Prevention Department. The grant offers a multifaceted, research-based approach to dropout prevention at the two schools. Four core intervention strategies are planned: academic support, mentoring, vocational preparation, and personal needs support. These strategies were chosen based on the research, “what works” to deter potential dropouts. The project will target students at-risk of dropping out and will seek to increase their attendance, persistence, academic success, parental involvement, and of course, graduation rates.

Mentoring, one of the core intervention strategies, is a very powerful and personal way to improve the lives of our  at-risk  youth.

Mentor Partners, adult volunteers, will mentor individuals and give support to a youth at Smithfield Selma High and North Johnston High.                    

Mission statement: The Mentor Partners Program is dedicated to re-engaging students to the importance of High School graduation by providing them respectful, empathetic support and coaching enabling the students to become productive and responsible adults.

Linda Ridout, the ECU Grant Dropout Prevention Coach, will be coordinating a Mentor Partners Group.  Thirty mentors will be needed for each High School to provide once a week one-on-one youth support at the school.

Activities will include identifying and training mentors, matching mentors with at-risk students, scheduling mentor/mentee weekly meetings and providing the mentors with a Mentor Partners Weekly Guide and other resources.

Make a Difference NOW for a youth.  Become a Mentor Partner.

Click here for a copy of the Mentor Description and Application.

Contact Linda Ridout if interested.

Linda Ridout, ECU Dropout Prevention Coach

700 East Booker Dairy Road

Smithfield, North Carolina  27577

919-915-0415  cell

ridoutl@ecu.edu