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Mentoring in Fairfax County

Number of Mentoring Programs in Fairfax County Public Schools

In Fairfax County Public Schools, WE BELIEVE IN OUR CHILDREN! We believe:

Each child is important and entitled to the opportunity to realize his or her fullest potential.
High expectations promote high achievement.

MentorWorks believes MENTORING is an important strategy to help ALL children realize their fullest potential by being connected to a caring, responsible adult, an adult who will hold high expectations to promote high achievement.

Where are the Mentoring Programs?
Mentoring in Fairfax County Public Schools occurs throughout the entire county and at all levels. According to data from the 2005-2006 school year, there are a total of 95 mentoring programs in FCPS: 68 Elementary School programs; 12 Middle School programs; 15 High School programs. This data also indicated that 3,933 students in FCPS were being mentored.

How are the Mentoring Programs Structured?
According to a December 2006 survey distributed to mentoring program coordinators, 90 percent of the mentoring programs in this county are traditional programs, and have a 1:1 ratio (1 adult matched with 1 student). Eighteen percent of the programs have a peer mentoring model (caring youth mentoring other youth); 16 percent provide group mentoring (one adult to up to four students); 16 percent have a combination model. The majority of the mentoring programs meet during school (63 percent), many of which have a “lunch buddy” model. Other programs meet after school (34 percent), and before school (21 percent).

What do the Mentoring Programs Offer?
The types of activities and programs offered by the schools also vary widely. While most programs set a number of goals for their mentees, more than 80 percent of the programs have academic achievement as their primary goal. Some of the other goals include:
Life skills * Career exploration * College preparation * Improving behavior * Character education * Improving self-esteem * Relationship building * Attendance * Friendship and peer relationships * Goals setting.

Who are the Mentors?
Mentoring programs across the county rely on a variety of sources to mentor students. While the majority (61 percent) use FCPS employees (teachers and staff) to mentor students, many programs look to business partners (35 percent) to provide mentors; community members (28.3 percent); faith organizations (6.5 percent); college students (2.2 percent); other sources include high school students, parent volunteers, and the local police department. The key to working with Fairfax County Public Schools’ students is to have the 5 C’s: compassion, commitment, consistency, communication, and confidentiality. We believe individuals from all walks of life can possess these characteristics, and we welcome you to explore this website further to find out how you can become a mentor to an FCPS student!