Community Connections Mentoring announced Thursday that it was recognized nationally for its specialized mentor training.
The North Platte-based mentoring organization works in partnership with The Center for Evidence-Based Mentoring at the University of Massachusetts Boston to offer “mindful mentoring."
Mindful mentoring is a specialized training program designed to equip mentors with skills to better support youth mental health by covering topics such as navigating anxiety, building motivation and resilience and developing healthy coping skills.
MentorPro, a mentoring software tool co-founded by UMass Boston psychology professor Jean Rhodes and her sister, highlighted Community Connections enhancements on youth mentoring “by equipping mentors with strategies for relationship-building, communication, and youth development.”
Investing in mentor training is investing in the future of our youth," said Angela Hipp, mentoring coordinator for Community Connections. “We deeply value our mentors and want to provide them with the best tools to support the young people they work with. This training is an incredible opportunity to learn from leading experts in youth mentoring. We hope this inspires more individuals to get involved.”
According to the MentorPro website, “mentors reported significant improvements in their perceived ability to support their mentees’ mental health and increased confidence in fostering emotional well-being.”
But the need for mentors has never been greater, the Community Connections’ press release said, as the waitlist of youth seeking mentors is “rapidly growing.”
“We are actively seeking caring, committed adults to step up and become mentors to help change the trajectory of a young person’s life.”