Group Mentoring

Kids Now follows a group mentoring approach. Since 1999, over 13,000 students in grades 7 & 8 have been given the opportunity to be mentored by qualified, full-trained volunteers from leading corporate companies and from the fields of education, arts, health  and business, among others.

DID YOU KNOW?

The mentoring relationship has been reported to improve the self-confidence of graduates by 75% and it increases a child’s desire to complete high school and continue on to college or university. After-school programs like Kids Now, which provide youth with a role model and tools to succeed in school, help kids realize their full potential and increase the likelihood of high school graduation.

SCHOOL CHAMPION

Each participating Kids Now school has a School Champion who is responsible for overseeing the program. The School Champion method ensures that the afterschool program runs smoothly from an administrative and logistical standpoint. This way kids enjoy a seamless day with no unpleasant surprises.

SELF-SELECTED

The Kids Now approach matches 10 self-selected students with one mentor. Self-selected means that participants want to be there and are eager to learn. School champions aid this  process by showing a kids.now multimedia presentation to eligible students, consulting with teachers, and ensuring that those who wish to participate are given the opportunity to do so.

AFTERSCHOOL

 Kids Now sessions take place in schools right after school, the hours that according to research, most youth crime is committed. In fact, parents face a chronic shortage of quality after-school programs for middle school children, which means that twice as many middle school parents want after-school programs than are currently available.

12 WEEKS

Trained volunteer mentors coach students over a 12-week period. Each week’s session includes positive interaction through dynamic discussions, brainstorming exercises, fun games and physical activity that reinforce the week’s message. Find out about our Program Elements.

10 KIDS + 1 MENTOR

The group is small enough for individual attention, and large enough for participants to interact and learn how to communicate with their peers. By the end of the program, all students have had the opportunity to speak up, lead, coach and to put their new found skills into action. The 10:1 ratio translates into positive relationships, communication and the ability to resolve conflict.  Learn what past participants have to say.

KIDS NOW IS A WISE INVESTMENT

Social Return on Investment Study (SROI) – In 2011, a study was undertaken through the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto to evaluate the Social Return on Investment generated by the Kids Now program.  The study considered the impact of a dollar invested in the kids.now mentoring program today and its long-term contribution to society through enhanced employment prospects and productivity of program participants, as well as reduced costs to society in such areas as the justice, welfare and health systems as a result of anticipated positive lifestyle choices.  Preliminary findings projected an SROI range of $10 to $14 for each dollar invested in the program.