YouthFriends is a school-based mentoring effort that links caring adult volunteers from the community with students in schools and is open to all students, grades K-12, within participating school districts. All activities take place on school grounds before, during or after school hours. YouthFriends volunteers typically visit a school for one hour each week to do things like have lunch with a student, help with reading or academic tutoring, share an interest or a hobby or simply listen.

Click here to view the Shawnee Mission District schools that participate in YouthFriends.

Mentor
Help a young person to develop the confidence and skills necessary to succeed. The YouthFriend works with the student for one hour or less a week, providing encouragement, support, and friendship. Many busy adults select a lunch-buddy routine with their youths.

Academic Coach
Assist a youth with schoolwork. Support a student by sharing organizational and motivational skills. Students may be having difficulty with subject matter or with completing and turning in assignments and homework.

Reading Assistant
Read to and with a small group of elementary students, and listen to them read.

Math Assistant
Work with small groups of elementary or middle school students.

Guest Reader
Read a story to an elementary classroom.