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IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH
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HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Mentoring Month.
January 2022 marked the 20th anniversary of National Mentoring Month, an annual campaign to focus attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us can work together to increase the number of mentors to help ensure positive outcomes for our young people.
Mentoring programs across the country make our communities stronger by driving impactful relationships that increase social capital for young people and provide invaluable support networks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, mentoring programs have stepped up to fill gaps for young people and families, connecting them with resources and ensuring that mentoring relationships continue virtually to ensure that physical distancing does not mean social disconnection.
Mentoring plays a pivotal role in career exploration and supports workplace skills by helping young people set career goals, equipping mentors with the skills needed to support the professional growth of young people, and drives positive outcomes for young people and businesses. Quality mentoring promotes healthy relationships and communication, positive self-esteem, emotional well-being, and growth of a young person and their relationships with other adults.
Students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52 percent less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and youth who face an opportunity gap, but have a mentor, are 55 percent more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor. Youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46 percent less likely than their peers to start using drugs and 27 percent less likely to start drinking.
National Mentoring Month is the time of year to celebrate, elevate, and encourage mentoring across our country and recruit caring adult mentors. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in this celebration and thank those individuals who are willing to step up and help shape the next generation of young Americans.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 25
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