Mentoring efforts statewide to receive extra support
Sebelius, Snyder announce $200,000 in grants to local programs

Mentoring efforts around the state will receive extra help, Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Coach Bill Snyder said today.

Sebelius and Snyder announced the availability of $200,000 in state grants to support existing and developing mentoring programs in order to expand mentoring opportunities throughout the state.

“Many Kansas communities don’t yet have mentoring programs, and some communities, while they have many programs, are unable to keep up with the demand for needed mentors,” Sebelius said. “We want to provide financial support to help existing mentoring programs sustain or expand their coverage and also to assist new mentoring efforts as they get started.”

The Kansas Mentors Leadership Council will be charged with determining how state dollars can best be spent to meet the mentoring needs of Kansas.  The council is composed of executives and leaders in the public and private sectors who have proven to be influential members of their communities.

Coach Snyder, who chairs the council, said the group will meet February 13 in conjunction with the Governor’s Conference on Mentoring to make its recommendations.

“Through the help of mentoring experts from all across the state, we’ve determined what our needs are,” Coach Snyder said.  “Now, I’m confident our Leadership Council will make sure these funds are fully utilized in the best possible way to give more Kansas youngsters access to quality and caring mentoring.”

Applications for these grants are now available online at www.ksmentors.ks.gov/news.htm

Already this year, Sebelius dedicated more than $600,000 of federal funds to local mentoring programs.  These grants mark the second phase of state grants to support mentoring opportunities.  The first phase of grants were dedicated to conducting a statewide needs assessment, providing regional training opportunities for strengthening mentoring organizations throughout Kansas, and for administering a statewide conference to discuss mentoring issues at the state and national levels.

More information on the Governor’s Conference and the regional training sessions will be provided early next year.

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