December 2007
Youth Outreach Impact Area

In the month of November, 1068 children were served by Lutheran Social Services School-Based Mentor Program in 27 Sioux Falls Public Schools.  Mentors meet with their students at school for one hour a week. The concept is quite simple linking an adult role model with a student to provide consistent support and friendship. Matches enjoy a variety of activities together such as playing a board game, working in the computer lab, reading a book, playing sports or simply eating lunch together and talking. One of the students said about her mentor, "I have a cool thing that happened, no it's not a pool, it's something better than that.  It's a mentor.  Her name is Erin, she is just like a sculpture, she doesn't go.  She stays by my side and she's there for me.  I am lucky to have a mentor like Erin.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!"  There are currently over 1500 additional students waiting for a mentor.

Last month Project Awareness provided over 175 prevention lessons, and completed 12 adolescent drug and alcohol screenings or assessments.  Over 3400 students participated in classroom lessons, individual counseling, screenings, assessments, family counseling, small group counseling, teacher in-services or community events.  Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31) allowed Project Awareness counselors a unique opportunity to share prevention knowledge with students in preschool through 12th grade! Some of the schools' students walked 75 miles to bring awareness to drug and alcohol prevention. Individual students walked and each ‘mile’ was combined with other students from the school. In other school districts, students tied red ribbons on vehicles as a symbol of substance abuse prevention.  Project Awareness provides services to 13 area school districts, including Adrian, Garretson, Dell Rapids, Dell Rapids St. Mary, Sioux Falls Lutheran, McCook Central, Tri-Valley, Flandreau, West Central, West Central Saturday, Canistota, Tea Area, and Brandon Valley.

568 mentors and youth built relationships with one another through Big Brothers Big Sisters during November.  A pizza and game night was held for matches and kids on the waiting list. A Ser-teen group volunteered at the event, playing games with the kids, especially those who don’t have a mentor. Matches also participated in a Christmas/Make It Take It party.  A local church provided treats, a craft and also helped the kids who are waiting for a mentor. Out of this event, three boys received a new mentor.  There are over 50 little boys currently waiting for a mentor and each of those boys must wait an average of 4.5 months to receive their mentor.  The special events provides activities that help strengthen match relationships, help youth learn teamwork, provide an activity which does not cost a lot of money and so much more. After the game night, one of the mentors said she enjoys playing games with her little sister because her little sister never played any games at home and they teach so much, from deductive reasoning, math skills, reading, and so much more. The best part is the child does not even know they are learning something because it is “just a game."

*To learn more about the impact Sioux Empire United Way Partner Programs are having, please click here.

What Matters

Kids in 13 schools surrounding Sioux Falls are getting more than the basics thanks to the Carroll Institute’s Project Awareness.

“Every time someone smokes they lose seven minutes of their life,” said Kyle, a Dell Rapids 5th grader. Kyle is taking part in the Carroll Institute’s Project Awareness.

The research based program addresses all of the most important factors leading adolescents to use one or more drugs by teaching a combination of health information, general life skills and drug resistance skills.

“I’ll never smoke, it’s so bad for you,” said Kyle. “But it makes me sad. My mom smokes. I’ve been telling her all about what I’m learning. I really hope that this will make a difference. I want her healthy as long as possible.”

Kyle isn’t the only child that has been changed by the program. Kids who participate in the program decrease their use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and other harmful drugs by up to 75%, creating the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

Thanks to the Sioux Empire United Way, elementary and middle school students in Brandon Valley, Canistota, Dell Rapids, Dell Rapids St. Mary, Flandreau Indian School, Garretson, Salem, Sioux Falls Lutheran, Tea, Tri-Valley, and West Central school districts have taken part in Project Awareness this past year.

Because we know what matters.

And what matters to Kyle, “I want to live as long as I can and that means not smoking and staying away from alcohol.”