Launching a High School Youth Mentoring Program

Why a Mentoring Program?Follows “Grow your own” conceptProvides pool of potential

employeesMakes a difference in the lives of

youthHelps employees (mentors)

sharpen their skills, improve their communication techniques, and build self-esteem

Who is SkillsUSA?SkillsUSA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational

association serving more than 300,000 students and teachers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.

Involvement with SkillsUSA gives employers a direct link with the educational system, producing an even exchange of benefits as students receive more relevant training and employers put better-prepared people to work.

SkillsUSA has helped develop more than nine million workers through active partnerships between employers and educators.

Why mentor SkillsUSA students?Students have an interest in skilled tradesActivities develop creativity, problem-

solving skills, teamwork, leadership, self-esteem and integrityall competencies and foundation skills

Introduces students to the dignity of work, high standards in trade ethics and workmanship, life-long learning and job safety

Helps bridge the school-to-workplace gap

Benefits to YouthImparts crucial skills (both job-related

and personal)Enriches and expands youths’ social

connectionsEnhances mentees’ self concept and

optimism about the futureStudents see the real-world application

of what they are learning in schoolStudies show improvement in students’

academic achievement

Next StepsMeet with SkillsUSA chapter

representatives and teachersSet program goals and objectivesEstablish program policies and

proceduresDevelop a program budgetCEWD/SkillsUSA mentoring toolkit

has everything we need to get started!