Program Facts
- The Stand-By-Me Mentoring Program was established at Flowery Elementary School in January, 1996.
- Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, was formed in May, 1999, as the fundraising & mentor recruiting agent for the program.
- The
Stand-By-Me Mentoring Alliance serves students on eight public
school campus in the Sonoma Valley Unified School District. Presently,
there are Mentor Centers located at Dunbar, Flowery, El Verano,
Sassarini, and Prestwood Elementary Schools, Altimira and Adele Harrison
Middle Schools, and Sonoma Valley High School. In addition, we have recently incorporated students at the Hanna Boys School into our program. If you wish to mentor a child at Hanna Boys School, please visit their website for more information, as additional steps will need to be taken.
- The goal is to match every child who is at-risk academically and/or socially with a caring adult role model from the Sonoma community.
- Mentors volunteer a minimum of one hour, once a week, during the scheduled school day.
- Presently, there are over 450 volunteer mentors who work one-on-one with 450+ at-risk children in grades K-12.
- Parents must sign a consent form to allow their child to participate, and are encouraged to play an active role with the Mentor and the program. Students must also sign a contract acknowledging their willingness to participate.
- Social functions are held periodically at the school sites in an effort to get Mentor-Mentee families together.
- Teachers support the Mentoring Program, and are encouraged to keep an open line of communication with the Mentors. Throughout the year, on-going Mentoring support is provided.
- Off-campus outings on weekends and school vacations are encouraged between the Mentors and Mentees.
- The Mentoring Alliance offers Mentees the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities such as sports, dance, art, drama, music, etc., through monies provided by our Empowerment Fund.
- All Mentees who are enrolled in our program for three years or more are eligible to apply for a scholarship upon graduation from high school. This scholarship may be used towards any form of higher education, and can be renewable each year.
- The Mentoring Alliance received the Spirit of Mentoring Award from the California Mentor Initiative for two consecutive years, one of only four school-based-programs in the state to receive this honor!
- In 2006, the Mentoring Alliance was named the Public Health Champion for Sonoma County, as a result of our efforts to "Promote & Encourage Healthy Behaviors in Children."
- In 2008, the Mentoring Alliance received the prestigious Jefferson Award for Sonoma County, in recognition of "Excellence in Community Leadership & Civic Engagement."
