Dear Kids Hope USA Directors,
October is an amazing month for Kids Hope USA! For most of our programs, the next few weeks mark the start of mentoring for the fall semester. That gives you directors a front-row seat to the joy and excitement of new and continuing mentoring friendships. Celebrate those moments with all those connected with your programs, and be confident that your hard work, persistence, and passion to serve in the name of Jesus are making a difference in the lives of so many children, mentors, and prayer partners!
In case your school is not able to have your mentors meet in person yet, we’ve got new Kids Hope USA Virtual Mentoring Resources to help you if virtual mentoring is an option. All the new resources are currently located on your director portal home page – your mentors are sure to love the new Virtual Mentoring Training and Virtual Mentoring Game and Activity Center. The Planning Guide and School Information Flyer will help you set up virtual mentoring with your school. Because of the changing landscape and the health needs of some of your mentors, you may wish to have this conversation with your school sooner than later. We are thankful that mentoring is back in motion this fall!
Cheryl Molhoek, Program Resource & Training Director
Best Practice Mentor Training
Why is ongoing mentor training an essential part of KHUSA?
- It helps shape a mentor’s motivation coming into the relationship.
- It establishes realistic expectations that are consistent with the program.
- It enhances mentor skills and knowledge that assist in building an effective relationship with a student.
- Research indicates that between two and six hours of pre-match training is important in helping the relationship to flourish.
Helpful points to remember:
- If you need to train new mentors (yay!), you can add them via the Volunteer Center. They’ll receive their login information via email.
- If you have returning mentors (yay, again!), view our list of continuing education webinars HERE.
- Share this new introduction video by KHUSA President Karen Pearson with your mentors.
- By regularly pointing your mentors back to the mentor website portal, they’ll remain aware of resources to enhance the time with their student and will continue to feel part of a bigger community and cause.
Top Things to Do for Your Program This Month
- Update your forms – We’ve updated quite a few forms. Make sure to download and use the most recent Parent and Guardian Consent Form. If your program uses paper Daily Progress Reports, make sure you are using our newest version HERE.
- Communicate – Use our Back-to-School Teacher Communication and Back-to-School Parent Communication forms.
- Update your Volunteer Center Grid – Add new volunteers and archive inactive volunteers. We’ve recently added some new editing features.
- Mentor Website Portal – Remind your volunteers to log in to the website to access KHUSA resources.
- Prepare fall/Thanksgiving activities – Gather ideas for your mentors to use with their students like this worksheet or other fun ideas from our fall and Thanksgiving Pinterest boards.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month
Everyone needs encouragement, and pastors are no exception. Ask your mentors to write a note of encouragement to your pastor(s) on behalf of your Kids Hope USA program for Pastor Appreciation Day this Sunday, October 10th. Having pastoral support for your KHUSA program is a blessing!
NEW: Mentor Newsletters
We will begin sharing a mentor newsletter three times per year to mentors, beginning this Thursday, October 7th! Our goal is to support your efforts in keeping your mentors engaged and encouraged. We’ll share resources, tips, and activities to equip mentors in this new school year.
Ideal Idea
Here’s a fun ideal idea for recruiting volunteers. Fielder Church in Texas had these signs made on foam board (24×36). They did one side in English and one side in Spanish! They also added a QR Code on the sign that takes you straight to their Kids Hope USA page on the church’s website. Director Sherrie Panter chose to wear her sign! Of course, these signs can also be placed on easels! 😊Thank you for the great idea! If you have a great idea and would be willing to share it, please contact your Program Support Specialist
Story Time
Perfect Matches
Director Deb Fahr at Mt. Pleasant Community Church in Mt. Pleasant, MI has had an exciting return to school this fall. She has been busy recruiting new mentors and making new matches. She wrote to us so we could share in her joy and amazement of how God is working in her program. May this short testimonial encourage and inspire you!
“I just want to share the joys I have experienced these past weeks as we get ready to launch in person! I am training 18 new mentors, and 11 former mentors have stepped up to partner with a new student. I have story after story of perfect matches: from a kindergartener with a traumatic experience partnered with a woman who has crisis training, to a child who falls on the spectrum partnered with a mentor who works at a center for children with autism, and on and on. I feel that God so honors Kids Hope and after 10 years I have learned not to worry, or stress as God always has it!”
Game On!
Here is a game idea to share with your mentors or you can add it to your game closet for a fresh idea.
Emoji Stories: This cube game has the best of both worlds; it builds storytelling skills and creative imagination and helps with social-emotional learning and understanding feelings-a win/win for sure!
Book Review
The Whatifs by Emily Kolgore
Cora is stuck in the loop, thinking about everything that can go wrong as she prepares for her recital. Someone helps her flip that thought in a positive way. For practical tools for today’s troubles, try thinking about the good what-ifs! This is a delightful book to help those who worry.
Are You Pray-Pared?
Share this seven-minute clip from Karol Ladd’s presentation on The Power of a Positive Mentor. Karol shares how she stays pray-pared when preparing to meet with her student. You can find the full presentation on the director portal by typing “Karol” in the search bar in the Resource Center or watch below!
You’re Making a Difference
New Leadership at Your Church or School?
One of the most important times to communicate the story and value of your Kids Hope USA program is when there’s been a transition of leadership at the school or church. A new leader may enter the picture without a clear understanding of the difference the mentors are making for the students. They may need a little time to settle into their new position, but you can start with a nice welcome card from you and your volunteers, maybe some goodies, and an offer to meet when the schedule allows. We would be happy to assist you in presenting the importance of the program and the resources available to your new leadership. By letting your Program Support Specialist know of the new leadership and new contact information, they’ll receive periodic communication from the national office further promoting the good work you’re doing. For more ideas on meeting with your new school contact or principal, click on the document below.
Save the Date
Our next National Prayer Call will be on November 18th at 1 PM Eastern (adjust for your time zones). Stay tuned for more information and a link to the Zoom meeting!
Did you know that some of our new partners over the past few months started because directors like you recommended KHUSA to their friends and family? You could increase the number of children mentored by making a simple referral to KHUSA!
Kids Hope USA is Hiring
The Kids Hope USA team is looking for a new Director of Partnership Growth. This position is located in Zeeland, MI at our National Support Office. If you know someone that is passionate about the mission of Kids Hope USA and meets the needs of this role, please pass along this link!
https://www.indeed.com/job/director-partnership-growth-8d65f627155cf4c8
New on the Kids Hope USA Blog
Have you read our latest blog post? Karen Mulder from Wisdom of the Wounded ministries shares her knowledge on the value of establishing routines while mentoring. By doing so, students are less likely to feel anxious by anticipating a fun, familiar, and positive mentoring hour! Read to the post by clicking below.
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