The Cooperative Peer Mentoring Program is a structured project intended to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors associated with violence and substance abuse in college age students and adolescent youth aged 10-16. These organizations are collaborating to recruit youth, train mentors, and sponsor events and skill building workshops for Kanawha County youth. Program activities are scheduled once a week on the WVSC campus and in meeting spaces of the other participating community agencies to provide contact between the adolescent youth and their mentors. In addition, outside contact including telephone conversations, after school activities, and tutoring are strongly encouraged. Mentors are required to attend continuous training sessions and document contacts between mentors and mentees.
Parental involvement is another vital element in the program.
Mentors and parents collaborate to ascertain the effects of the program on their children's behaviors and attitudes at home and school. They have been trained in several areas of communication effectiveness including making effective presentations, listening skills, and leading group discussions. They will make presentations on campus that are designed to help students take and honest look at their attitudes and behaviors. Other program activities will include Peer Counseling and referral. Peer Educators will be recruited for the Spring 1997 semester.