A MENTORING PICTURE 7Help DYS Celebrate

January is National Mentoring Month

January 2012 marks the 11th Annual National Mentoring Month, highlighting mentoring and the positive impact it has on young lives. National Mentoring Month (NMM) is a nationwide initiative to help raise awareness for the need to recruit volunteer mentors for youth who are at risk of not achieving their full potential. Mentoring Works!! Many research studies suggest that mentoring a child improves child’s self-esteem, academic performance and child’s relationship with peers and family, as well as decreases drug and alcohol use, school absenteeism and negative behaviors.

Thank Your Mentor Day, celebrated on Thursday, January 26, 2012, is an opportunity to join others in honoring an important mentor in your life.

DYS Mentoring Program is the only Community Based Mentoring program operated in the City of Danbury that takes referrals for children at -risk, ages 8 – 18 from an agency or school professional in Greater Danbury area. The mentor and mentee meet once a week in a community setting.  The mentor provides the child with a positive role model in a safe and comfortable environment.

DYS is currently accepting application for mentors and we are in great need for them, especially male mentors.   If interested, please visit our web site at www.Danburyyouthservices.org and apply!

What People Are Saying About Danbury Youth Services, Inc.

“My counselor has shown me a lot about my anger and how I can control it.  I’m so excited that DYS has paid for summer camp – they even gave me the bike I needed for camp.  When I was in a car accident, my DYS counselor helped me get new eye glasses.”

“This is a place where I feel safe to talk about what I want.  I feel listened to and it makes me feel comfortable.  The counselors are helpful and respectful but never push to far.  I am getting to release any pent-up emotion to someone who cares and it feels good.”

“Before GAL’s Club I was smart, fun, secretive, and shy.  Now I am still smart and fun but  am also confident, brave, easy going, and I have friends.”

“As a leaders in GAL’s Club, I help others as much as I can.  Before joining the club, I did not know how to make friends.”

“Coming here has helped my family to understand each other more – it makes us feel closer.”

“Coming to DYS has helped me learn not to be a bully.  My teachers made some changes that my counselor suggested, and its helped me do better at school”