SCR 5, as introduced, Gaines. Mentoring Month.
This measure would designate the month of January 2015 as Mentoring Month, and would call on public officials, business and community leaders, and educators to observe the month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs in order to accomplish specified objectives recognizing the importance of mentoring and promoting the creation and expansion of mentorship programs.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, In 2002, the Harvard School of Public Health and
2MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership created the
3National Mentoring Month campaign, held annually each January,
4to raise awareness of mentoring, to recruit individuals to mentor,
5and to promote the growth of mentoring by encouraging
6organizations to facilitate employee involvement in quality
7mentoring; and
8WHEREAS, A mentor provides a caring and consistent presence
9and devotes time to help a mentee discover personal strength and
10achieve full potential through a structured and trusting relationship;
11and
12WHEREAS, Quality mentoring encourages positive choices,
13promotes self-esteem, supports academic achievement, and
14introduces young people to new ideas; and
P2 1WHEREAS, Mentoring programs are effective in combating
2school violence, discipline problems, substance abuse,
3incarceration, and truancy; and
4WHEREAS, Research shows that a young person who is at risk
5for not completing high school but who has a mentor is 55 percent
6more likely to enroll in college, 81 percent more likely to report
7participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities, more
8than twice as likely to report holding a leadership position in a
9club or sports team, and 78 percent more likely to volunteer
10regularly in the community; and
11WHEREAS, Youth development experts agree that mentoring
12is critical to the social, emotional, and cognitive development of
13a young person and to, helping that person successfully navigate
14the path to adulthood; and
15WHEREAS, A mentor helps a young person set career goals
16and uses personal contacts to help that young person develop
17professional relationships and find a job; and
18WHEREAS, Mentoring is a proven cost-effective investment--
19for every $1 invested in mentoring, there is a $3 return to society;
20and
21WHEREAS, The benefits of mentoring serve to link youth to
22economic opportunity and strengthen the fiber of communities;
23and
24WHEREAS, Despite these benefits, one in three young people
25will reach 19 years of age without a mentor, creating a “mentor
26gap” that demonstrates a need for collaboration and resources;
27now, therefore, be it
28Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
29thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares the month
30of January 2015 as Mentoring Month; and be it further
31Resolved, That the Legislature calls on public officials, business
32and community leaders, and educators to observe this month with
33appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs in order to
34accomplish the following:
35(a) Recognize the people who serve as staff and volunteers at
36quality mentoring programs and who help young people find inner
37strength and reach their full potential.
38(b) Acknowledge that mentoring is beneficial because it
39encourages educational achievement, reduces juvenile delinquency,
40improves life outcomes, and strengthens communities.
P3 1(c) Promote the creation and expansion of quality mentoring
2programs across the country to equip young people with the tools
3needed to lead
healthy and productive lives.
4(d) Support initiatives to close the mentoring gap; and be it
5further.
6Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
7this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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