State officials hope more adults will mentor young people

Plenty of kids in Michigan need an adult mentor.  That’s according to Paula Kaiser VanDam, executive director of the Michigan Community Service Commission.

“This year the network of mentoring organizations that we work with are serving about 24,000 children. What we know is that there are thousands more kids that want a mentor that currently do not have one.”

Kaiser VanDam says the time commitment is one hour per week. Mentors are expected to spend time with their young person and listen to them.

Kaiser VanDam says children who are mentored tend to stay in school, graduate, and develop better social skills.

January is National Mentoring Month. More information can be found at mentormichigan.org