Dear Kids Hope USA Directors,
Happy New Year! Recently, I’ve had a line from a song stuck in my head, “I love you just the way God made you, ‘cuz He don’t make mistakes!” Isn’t this exactly the message our Kids Hope USA students, indeed all of us, need to hear?
Thanks for all the ways that you will be highlighting the fun, importance, and purpose of mentoring this month as we celebrate National Mentoring Month together. God is doing amazing things through these mentoring relationships and as a director, you’ve got a front-row seat to much of the action. Please take a few minutes this month to remind your mentors how important it is for them to build up their students through affirming and encouraging words. We know that each of us is special, God doesn’t make mistakes!
This newsletter is full of great information and tips for managing your program including:
- National Mentoring Month resources
- Volunteer Center enhancements
- Encouraging words & ideas from fellow directors
- Book & game recommendations and more!
Enjoy!
Karen Pearson Ph.D. President, Kids Hope USA
National Mentoring Month Presentation
8 Great Smarts: Nurturing Your Students Intelligences
Every child wants to be smart…When you and your child understand there are eight intelligences, the question changes from ‘Am I smart?’ and ‘How smart am I?’ to the much more valuable ‘How am I smart?’‘
In honor and support of all KHUSA mentors, KHUSA is excited to present this learning opportunity for mentors, featuring Dr. Kathy Koch. Dr. Koch is the founder and president of Celebrate Kids, Inc. She’ll be sharing the 8 Great Smarts and how mentors can discover and nurture their students’ intelligences.
While Dr. Koch will be addressing KHUSA mentors, you are welcome to extend the invitation to others who could benefit from this presentation– including your children’s ministry team!
Wednesday, January 19, 1:00-2:00 pm ET
IMPORTANT – Please register in advance at the link below – you’ll be sent a replay if unable to attend live. Please encourage your volunteers to do the same.
P.S. Be sure your volunteer list is updated in the Volunteer Center so they’ll also receive an invite and reminders directly from KHUSA.
From 8 Great Smarts
“Smart” is a power word. Children who believe they’re smart excel more in school and approach life with greater confidence. But children who don’t can struggle to apply themselves. Do you wish your student could see how smart he or she is? Find hope in 8 Great Smarts. You’ll be empowered and equipped with new language and creative ideas.
Best Practice – Encouragement
By encouraging your volunteers in a variety of ways throughout the year, they will feel valued and desire to be part of the KHUSA program on a long-term basis. Be intentional about encouraging your volunteers (both mentors and prayer partners) by setting dates when you will focus on encouraging them—and put these dates on your calendar. Get to know your volunteers and the ways in which they each feel valued – would they rather receive a small token gift/food item or a hand-written note?
Tip: National Mentoring Month is a great time for you to recognize and thank your volunteers. Check out the National Mentoring Month Toolkit for more ideas.
Director Portal Updates
Because you asked, we’ve made a few enhancements to the Volunteer Center on the director portal to increase functionality. Login and check it out.
- View and Restore Archived Users: Directors are now able to view (by clicking “Archived Users” in the Volunteer Center) and restore previously archived users.
- Export Volunteer Table: Directors are now able to export their volunteer table (by clicking “Export”) at the upper left corner of the volunteer table.
Save the Date: February Prayer Call and Director Group
February 17 at 1pm ET
Invite your prayer partners and mentors to join the call. Let’s pray for 2022 and for more programs to return to face-to-face mentoring.
Mentor Newsletter & National Reading Month
March is National Reading Month and Kids Hope USA always encourages making reading fun and a regular part of mentoring. Check with your school and see how you can support their National Reading Month plans.
As you are planning, consider creating some fun within your own KHUSA program.
- Create a craft around a beloved book
- Offer incentives such as raffle tickets for every five minutes spent reading with many winners each week or a prize for every match that reads together 60 minutes in March
Next week’s Mentor Newsletter includes Tips for Reluctant Readers and simple tools to support reading together. Share YOUR ideas on our Facebook page or attend February’s director call for inspiration!
Top 4 Things to Do for Your Program this Month
- Sign up to attend our presentation with Dr. Kathy Koch. Maybe gather with your mentors to watch together over lunch or coffee.
- Check in with your school to see what needs they might have this new semester.
- Refresh your KHUSA supplies at school: Do your games have all the pieces? Do you need more copies of an activity or the DPR? Could you use a new book that has characters your students can relate to?
- Take a look at your Volunteer Center to make sure all of your Mentors and Prayer Partners are listed and try out the new export feature.
Ideal Idea
Director Kimberly Batdorf at West Towne Christian Church, TN did a 4-week recruitment push at church with a short video of a mentor each week, some pulpit encouragement by her and the pastor, and a recruitment table in the foyer after each service. Though individually these are not new ideas, Kimberly was able to bring focus and attention to their program with a repeated emphasis over four weeks. Great job!
Encouragement from Fellow Directors: Comments from the Fall Survey
- I honestly feel the pandemic has allowed us to really show our school how invested our church is in their faculty and students in ways we never imagined possible. We have a unique relationship with the school beyond KHUSA so I really believe this has been a wonderful opportunity to continue to build trust and encouragement so that when we are ready to resume mentoring, it will be met with much support and our KHUSA program will flourish!
- Reconnecting in person!! One student ran and almost tackled her mentor with the biggest hug after doing pen-pal mentoring and zoom all last year. Everyone was crying who saw it! This shows that their relationship is so special!
- Even though we are still mentoring through pen pal and feel it is necessary to keep that connection at least, it has been amazing to see how much mentors, school staff, and students are craving face-to-face interaction. Not that the Kids Hope program wasn’t appreciated and recognized as effective and beneficial before, but this time of adapting has made it clear just how effective and beneficial it is! ❤️
Seasonal Ideas from KHUSA Pinterest Boards
National Mentoring Month Ideas:https://www.pinterest.com/kidshopeusa/national-mentoring-month/
Black History Month: https://www.pinterest.com/kidshopeusa/black-history-month-ideas/
Valentine’s Day: https://www.pinterest.com/kidshopeusa/valentines-day-ideas/
Reading Month: https://www.pinterest.com/kidshopeusa/reading-ideas-and-games/
You’re Making a Difference
New to the Blog
Read the latest Prayer Partner Devotional below – Bring Your Umbrella by Don Poest, retired pastor of KHUSA partner church, Brunswick Reformed Church, in Brunswick, OH.
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!
Beth Wassink – Program Success Specialist
(616) 536-1012
bwassink@kidshopeusa.org
Cheryl Molhoek – Program Resource & Training Director
(616) 202-6877
cmolhoek@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