Submitted by Ray Galloway
(May 14, 2025) — Is mentoring a child in your future? Do you have an interest in actively supporting children living in Haddam and Killingworth as they strive to grow toward adulthood? If you answered “yes” or “possibly,” then please read further.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since the Haddam-Killingworth Mentoring Program (HKMP) was renewed in 2020 by Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services, in collaboration with Regional School District 17, the program has grown from five children developing friendships with five adults to the present twenty-one relationships! The steady growth of the HKMP is largely due to the volunteerism of community members. As the end of the school year approaches, it is time to plan for the 2025-2026 school year. A significant component of the plan is seeking additional volunteers to serve as Mentors.
WHAT IS A MENTOR?
A Mentor is a role model, a friend, a listener and a confidant. Children selected for the program are matched with an adult mentor who has received training and has agreed to a formalized background check. Children meet with their Mentors for an hour each week during the school year and in the school setting.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN?
Children who participate in the program can:
- Show improved school attendance;
- Show improved self-esteem;
- Show improved school engagement;
- Be less likely to start using illegal drugs and alcohol;
- Show improved relationships with adults;
- Improve their school performance;
- Show increased participation in extra-curricular activities;
- Experience higher graduation rates and be more likely to enroll in post-secondary education programs.
If you would like to become a participant in a program that can potentially have a beneficial, lifelong impact on the life of a child, please consider becoming a mentor for a student here in Haddam/Killingworth. We have students who are hoping that adults in our community will have time to be their adult friend, to support them as they face the challenges of growing up and, equally important, to have fun in the process!
If you have an interest in learning more about the HKMP and possibly applying to become a mentor, please email Patty Coletti, Program Coordinator, at mentorprogram@hkyfs, or call 860-345-7498. She is convening informational meetings for prospective mentors during May, June and July at a time/place to be determined.
Training for new mentors is being planned for late August 2025. We are asking you, as a responsible adult member of the community, to consider becoming a mentor for a child starting in September 2025. You, too, can make a positive difference in the life of a child!
