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January is National Mentoring Month. Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that can bring young people together with caring people who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the student.

A mentor is an adult who, along with parents, provides a young person with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and constructive example.

Mentors are good listeners, people who care, people who want to help young people bring out strengths that are already there.

Many mentoring programs train volunteers to help children academically. One, Experience Corps, is a nationally acclaimed program for elementary-school students. Another, Project Achieve in Amphitheater Public Schools, mentors schoolchildren of all ages. These, along with Flowing Wells High School, Arizona's Children Association and many other agencies, need academic mentors.

Some programs focus on helping youths at risk. In My Shoes matches foster children transitioning to independence with adults who were once foster children themselves.

The Arizona Youth Partnership Wake Up! program matches mentors with youths who have committed an alcohol- or drug-related offense.

Many mentoring organizations are part of Caregiver's Choice, a program that matches mentors with children of incarcerated parents.

Mentoring can be adult-to-adult. Old Pueblo Community Foundation needs mentors to help prisoners preparing to re-enter community life.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southern Arizona's Buddy program pairs people in recovery from mental illness.

Other mentors coach refugees and help them adjust to life in the United States.

Faith communities are often involved in mentoring programs. MentorKids USA and Community Renewal will sponsor a Christian faith-based mentoring conference in late January.

There are many volunteer opportunities for mentoring. Visit the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona's Web site, www.volunteersoaz.org, or call 881-3300, to find the ideal mentoring position for you.

— Submitted by Linda Krause, Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona