Dear Kids Hope USA Directors,
The hustle and bustle of my kids’ last few weeks of school made me feel like I was going 80 mph and running on fumes. I’ve never been more excited to hit the brakes. We’ve been able to go at a much slower pace the last few weeks, and while the summer break is exactly that…a break, it won’t be long before I’m shifting gears and preparing to head back to school! The school uniforms are already on sale and school supplies are starting to fill the shelves.
It’ll soon be time to prepare for a new mentoring season as well. We’re hearing many principals and counselors share that there’s an even greater need for mentors this year. They have hopes that Kids Hope USA will be back in their schools this fall. To that end, we want to help give you and your program a JUMPSTART! What you do NOW as the Kids Hope USA director can set up your program for greater success and a smoother launch as we head back to school!
We are praying for you! Please reach out to us if we can assist you with anything.
Kate Cochran – Launch Success Specialist
JUMPSTART Your Volunteer Engagement
Have Your Volunteers Register for Our Back-to-School Webinar
August 17th 1:00 PM Eastern Time
Mentoring After COVID: Practical Tips for Engaging Students with Dr. Emilie DeYoung
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpdO2gqj8oG907wCvvPCOKLTMg_gXILriL
Dr. Emilie DeYoung of Winning at Home will take us on a deeper dive into the issues our students may be facing and how mentors can best respond in love and encouragement. Dr. Emilie holds a Ph.D. in psychology and has been working with children and families for 25 years. We’re so thankful to have her as a resource for our Kids Hope USA programs!
Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
JUMPSTART Your Recruiting Efforts with Our Recruiting Toolkit
We were excited to highlight our newly updated recruiting resources on our June director call! Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the call. Click on the image below for instructions on how to access the resources for yourself.
Let us help you JUMPSTART your to-do list!
- Meet with your pastor to review the past year and create a plan for sharing about Kids Hope USA with the congregation.
- Schedule a day to meet with your principal and counselor (and even bring them lunch) one day this summer.
- Connect individually with your mentors to see who plans to return in the fall and share with them opportunities to engage, such as the KHUSA Mentoring After COVID webinar August 17.
- Use the NEW Kids Hope USA Recruitment Resources to create a plan to recruit new volunteers.
- Continue to pray for your volunteers, school, and students.
Best Practice Building Your KHUSA Leadership Support Team
We want to help you JUMPSTART your plans to build your leadership team. You’ve probably heard a wise person say, “Many hands make light work.” You can be sure they said that based on experience. Even the Bible says, “Woe to him who is alone; when he falls, he has not another to lift him up.” (Eccl. 4:10b) Your role as director is key to the success of your church’s mentoring program at your school. However, you don’t have to do it alone. Take a look at our updated Building a KHUSA Leadership Support Team document below and determine what roles would be most helpful to you. Discuss them with your supervising pastor, ask your prayer partners to be praying about them, and communicate the available positions to your mentors and other appropriate congregants. You can do this!
Help your mentors JUMPSTART a connection with their student by having them create a Flag of Me together! This is a great activity to utilize at the beginning of the school year to help the mentor and student get to know each other. The more they get to know simple things about each other, the more quickly their relationship will grow. See instructions here:
Game On!
A Chatterbox is a great way to JUMPSTART a conversation! See the document below for a completed version to fold and use or a blank version the mentor and student can fill in themselves.
Our story this month is from Director, Ruth Cowles, of East Arlington Baptist Church in Lawrence, MI. In fact, multiple stories are shared in her KHUSA program newsletter. What a great way to keep mentors encouraged and share ongoing progress with your pastor and potential volunteers. Ruth prepares the content of the newsletter, and a teenager from her church puts it together! Thank you, Ruth, for sharing!!
Join Our Director Facebook Group!
Connect with other directors and team Kids Hope USA by joining our private director Facebook group. Click the button below!
Connect with the Program Success Team!
Cheryl Molhoek – Program Resource & Training Director
(616) 202-6877
cmolhoek@kidshopeusa.org
Beth Wassink – Program Success Specialist
(616) 536-1012
bwassink@kidshopeusa.org
Davina Pennington – Program Support Director
(770) 727-1478
dpennington@kidshopeusa.org
Kari McLennan – Launch Success Specialist
(847) 971-0963
kmclennan@kidshopeusa.org
Kate Cochran – Launch Success Specialist
(210) 288-7520
kcochran@kidshopeusa.org
Lori Cyr – Program Success Specialist
(281) 772-4338
lcyr@kidshopeusa.org
Tammy Johnston – Program Success Specialist
(817) 717-3116
tjohnston@kidshopeusa.org