Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries is proud to launch a new program in the Mahoning Valley designed to assist youth in overcoming disadvantages and avoiding delinquency. The effort is part of a national mentoring program known as Goodwill® GoodGuides™ that helps teens finish school and transition into productive careers through the guidance of trusted adults.

   The Goodwill GoodGuides™ program is made possible through a two-year, $299,723 grant to Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries. The donation is part of a $19.1 million award to Goodwill Industries International from the U.S. Department of Justice and dispersed to 56 independent Goodwill agencies around the country.

   The overall goal of the Goodwill GoodGuides™ program is to help youth build career plans and skills, and prepare for school completion, post-secondary training and productive work by providing structured and supportive relationships with trusted adult mentors. The GoodGuides™ program will primarily focus on the Youngstown-Warren area and the surrounding communities. It targets youths between the ages of 12 and 17 who are at-risk for dropping out of school, facing legal troubles, or are at risk for delinquency due to issues such as abuse, disability, drug or alcohol dependence, or gang membership.

   “With Goodwill GoodGuides™, we will be able to offer expanded mentoring services to the youth of our community,” said McBride. “Goodwill will recruit, train and support volunteer mentors to engage youth in promoting their career development and life skills.”

   The GoodGuides™ program is currently looking for youths who are in need of mentoring, as well as adult mentors. The majority of the activities will take place off-site and out in the community. “Two of the biggest areas the program will focus on are family strengthening and career exploration,” says Corey Rader, GoodGuides™ program manager. “Some of the activities which I envision taking place are college visits, job shadowing, company and educational tours, after school tutoring, library visits and various recreational activities.”

   The program is completely free; there are no fees for the kids. “There is no specific time kids and mentors need to be available, however I am looking for a commitment of four hours a month from both the kids and the mentors,” says Rader. “I am hoping to have enough kids and mentors to begin pairing them up by the end of January.”

   A background check will be required for all mentors, as well a six-hour training session which will be held at the Goodwill offices on Belmont Avenue. An application and screening will be required for the kids which will include identifying goals to help determine a direction and focus for their program.

   The Goodwill GoodGuides™ program will launch on January 11 in the Mahoning Valley. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer mentor or know of a youth who would benefit from this program, please call Goodwill at 330.759.7921, ext. 218. Businesses or organizations that are willing to provide job shadowing, corporate tours or other activities are encouraged to call as well.