New city schools mentoring program nears launch

CHILLICOTHE — A new program to provide mentoring and exposure to community service to Chillicothe elementary and middle school students is nearing its launch.

The city school district is partnering with Easter Seals of Central and Southeast Ohio to use a one-year grant to create the Readying Our Children for Success program.

"The program is about uplifting a population of stranded children that all too often gets left behind because of circumstances beyond their control: poverty, poor parental guidance, economic instability and desolate surroundings," states and executive summary for the program. "The ability to assist youth entering the 5th and 6th grade at Tiffin, Allen and Mount Logan elementary schools as well as 7th and 8th graders at Chillicothe Middle School creates a unique opportunity to provide new prospects to under-served, at-risk youth in the Chillicothe school system."

Easter Seals is handling overall project management, said Libby Ballentine with Easter Seals, including a teacher and assistant teacher at two sites who are being hired and trained.

"It's really about looking at that population of children that need extra help and a little bit of a push in the right direction and the ability to get out in the community to have new experiences and really be able to give them those opportunities," Ballentine said. "We're looking at pairing these kids with mentors hoping to get them those experiences and have conversations about future thoughts in terms of college, technical school, what is the best step. I think that's really a valuable thing to give kids the ability to have those conversations and really look toward the future."

Alissa Putnam, district curriculum director, said the hope is to have the program ready to launch by the end of this month and that coordinators are still  rounding up mentors from the business, service and faith communities, among others, to take part. People who volunteer will undergo some training on being a mentor.

"Pretty much anyone who has an interest (in being a mentor)," Putnam said. "So we've had some interest from people in Rotary, Glatfelter, Walnut Street United Methodist Church, the mayor's office."

Students will be recommended for participation in the program with the help of teachers and guidance counselors who get the opportunity to get to know the children on a daily basis. Kids in greatest need of a positive adult role model in their lives and who can benefit most from the adult relationship and guidance for the future will be given priority.

Students will receive tutoring, homework help, mentoring and activities after school a couple of times each week. Among the activities in the works is participation in a Make Chillicothe Beautiful Day helping city personnel with painting, landscaping and cleaning in Chillicothe parks with a city pool pass provided in return; a tour of the Glatfelter facility; an archaeological dig at Mound City; and a scavenger hunt.

Other potential involvement includes participation in the Kids in College program at Ohio University-Chillicothe, volunteering for a Dolly Parton Imagination Library event, taking part in water safety at the city pool and a career exploration day.

According to the executive summary, a food program will be implemented to address food insecurity issues some children face.

The program was originally proposed for three years with the pursuit of $500,000 in state funding to implement. Ballentine said that because there were so many applicants across the state for Community Connectors grants, the grant awards for projects selected were reduced to one year with re-evaluation afterward on their outcomes to see which ones showed enough benefit to keep moving forward.

While the activities and exposure to community service are definite positives, Putnam said the positive adult interaction is perhaps the biggest benefit.

"Most important is being paired with an adult who can be part of their lives and a part of their education and their plans in school and really just provide another person to be part of their lives," Putnam said. "That's the hope."

Putnam said anyone interested in becoming a mentor should email Ballentine at lballentine@easterseals-cseohio.org.