MOULTRIE — It has been a goal of Communities In Schools (CIS) since its inception to find a way to reduce the drop-out rate in Colquitt County and a key component in this task has been the mentoring program.

“Since 1998, many caring adults throughout our community have served as mentors to young people through the Communities In Schools Mentoring Program. This school-based program was designed to help young people develop their potential and set their sights on graduation,” said Shannon Hall, director of the mentoring program.

With the dissolution of CIS Tuesday, the mentoring program will be taken over as a program of the Moultrie YMCA.

“We are grateful that the Moultrie YMCA will be continuing the mentoring program. I know that those who have supported the program through CIS all of these years will continue to do so as it operates under the leadership of the YMCA,” said Denise Bell, executive director of Communities In Schools.

Hall will continue on as the director of the mentoring program, under the new name — Y Mentors.

“I first want to say how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to work with such a supportive team at CIS — I will miss each of them,” Hall said. “I want to especially thank Denise Bell for her leadership and guidance. What I have gained from working with this team is immeasurable. Because of the hard work, dedication and compassion of the CIS staff and volunteers, hundreds of young people have a brighter future.”

The continuation of this program through the YMCA was made possible by a donation from the Waldo DeLoache Charitable Trust, which is managed through Southwest Georgia Bank.

“We are grateful for the generous support of the Waldo DeLoache Charitable Trust and Southwest Georgia Bank,” said Moultrie YMCA CEO Greg Coop. “With their help, we will continue connecting students and mentors in our schools. The Moultrie YMCA is excited about the opportunity to continue the mentoring program CIS has established. It is humbling, and a great compliment, that the CIS board had the confidence in our YMCA board and staff to ask us to administer the program.”

Southwest Georgia Bank officials said the bank is glad to help.

“Southwest Georgia Bank has awarded a grant from the Waldo DeLoache Charitable Trust to facilitate the transition of the mentoring program from Communities In Schools to the YMCA. Grants from the trust are intended as special project grants to approved 501c3 public charitable entities that benefit the people of southwest Georgia,” said Steve Johnson, vice president, Southwest Georgia Bank.

The mentoring program has served more 300 students this year, but its goal is to serve 500 students, said Hall.

“The need never goes away. ... We get them kindergarten through 12th grade,” she said.

She said there are more than 100 students on a waiting list and many referrals come in from all the schools in the district.

“It’s a very structured and organized program with policies aligned with national mentoring partners — Elements of Effective Practice,” said Bell.

Typically, a mentor will spend about 45 minutes a week with their mentee at a designated location. The high school mentors are encouraged to keep in contact in several ways with their student but two visits a month are recommended, said Hall. Mentors are not required to have a teaching background but are trained through an orientation that uses research-based materials. Volunteers are required, however, to be consistent and dependable for the sake of the students.

“Mentoring is a one-to-one trusting, caring relationship based on purposeful interactions that exist between an adult and a youth. During these interactions, time is spent helping young people gain the skills and confidence to be responsible for their own future,” she said.

She also added that the mentors seemed to receive as much of a benefit from the mentoring program as the children did.

Hall also said she believed that the core values of the Y were “a good fit” for the program and said she had already been a witness to the strong work ethic and collaboration among the staff.

“I also want to thank Greg Coop and the YMCA board for recognizing the importance of sustaining the mentoring program and for bringing me onboard. I am looking forward to working with everyone at the Y and serving our mentors and youth this upcoming school year,” she said.

Anyone interested in mentoring may contact Shannon Hall, mentoring program director, at 985-1154 or at shall@colquitt.k12.ga.us.