By STEFANIE HUBBS

Through the efforts of Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, a national mentoring campaign supported by President George W. Bush, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Secretary of State Colin Powell is gaining local attention.

This month marks the third annual National Mentoring Awareness Month, and members of the Utah Mentoring Partnership, an umbrella organization of 40 mentoring groups, are working with the Utah Attorney General's office to get Utahns involved in mentoring programs.

"Choices leading our children to juvenile crime can be traced to a lack of positive, consistent role models in their lives," Shurtleff said in a news release.

Shurtleff, who is also honorary chair of the Utah Mentor Network, said mentoring is the best way to prevent crime, drugs and gang violence.

"America's greatness is rooted in the spirit of community and volunteerism," Shurtleff said. "With today's threats of war and terrorism, the greatest concern for America's future comes from within our own borders."

Ric Cantrell, community response spokesman for the Utah Attorney General's office, said mentoring is more than just talking to people about their problems.

"We need everything from teaching a child how to read to taking him to a baseball game," Cantrell said. "And for students who may not have a car, you can mentor on the Internet."

Cantrell said he supports Shurtleff in encouraging Utahns to join mentoring programs because it reduces crime, drug abuse and unwanted pregnancies among youth.

"Mentoring is the best tool available to law enforcement to prevent crime in our communities. Period," Cantrell said.

According to a news release from the attorney general's office, youth who have a mentor are 70 percent less likely to steal and 60 percent less likely to be involved in gang activity.

Anna Tibbits, executive director of the Utah Mentoring Partnership, said one of the main purposes of National Mentoring Month is to assist the 6,000 children and single mothers in Utah who are waiting for mentors.

"In January, we usually get double the inquiries [about volunteering] that we usually we receive," Tibbits said.

Tibbits said BYU students contribute a high percentage of the volunteer mentoring hours in Utah Valley.

"BYU students have been awesome in giving their services as volunteers," Tibbits said. "I would just encourage them to continue with that."

Tibbits said one way to get involved in mentoring is to contact her at the Utah Mentoring Partnership, or visit www.utahmentors.gov.

"Students can call me," Tibbits said. "And I take those inquiries and help direct them to program that's best for them in their area."

BYU offers several mentoring resources for students.

Two programs sponsored by Women's Services and Resources, Peers Are Leaders in Service and Fed Up with Food, are mentoring opportunities for students who either want a mentor or want to volunteer as one.

Peers Are Leaders in Service is a program provided for freshman women to help in their transition to college life.

Fed Up with Food provides mentoring for students with disordered eating.

Amy Gerritsen, an employee of Women's Services and Resources, said Fed Up with Food gives students who are struggling with eating disorders the chance to get to know each other and give peer support.



Copyright Brigham Young University 7 Jan 2004