Bill Text: DE SCR29 | 2011-2012 | 146th General Assembly | Draft

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Bill Title: Commending The Work Of Communities In Schools And Connecting Generations And Designating March 28, 2012 As Communities In Schools Of Delaware And Connecting Generations Day.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-5)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-29 - Passed in House by Voice Vote [SCR29 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2011-SCR29-Draft.html

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SPONSOR:	Sen. Henry & Reps. Bolden, Scott & Kenton
	Sen. Connor; Reps. Bennett, Heffernan, Schooley, B. Short, Viola, Walker, Hocker & Hudson

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

146th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 29

COMMENDING THE WORK OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS AND CONNECTING GENERATIONS AND DESIGNATING MARCH 28, 2012 AS COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF DELAWARE AND CONNECTING GENERATIONS DAY.

WHEREAS, Communities in Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life; and, Connecting Generations serves as a resource for mentoring and other intergenerational programs in Delaware, this collaborative partnership provides Delawareans an opportunity to be a positive role model in the life of a child through site based mentoring. This non-profit collaborative effort has championed the connection of needed community resources within our schools, by bringing caring adults and high school students into the schools to address children's social and academic needs; and

WHEREAS, Communities in Schools provides a researched-based comprehensive model and solution to the issues that place young people in jeopardy of dropping out. It also recognizes that students often need more than the best teachers or the most rigorous curriculum and standards in order to succeed—they need additional supports that will reinforce the work of educators in our schools. Whether a student needs a mentor, eyeglasses, help with homework, a nutritious meal, assistance with college access or just a safe place to learn, the CIS model in Delaware helps to identify and provide those resources each day for 9,000 students and in partnership with Connecting Generations supports 2,000 mentor matches across the State of Delaware; and

WHEREAS,Mentoring is a structured, one-to-one relationship or partnership that focuses on the needs of mentored participants; fosters caring and supportive relationships; encourages individuals to develop to their fullest potential; helps an individual to develop his or her own vision for the future; and is a strategy to develop active community partnerships; and

WHEREAS, Based upon experience and theresearch that has already been compiled, we know that in programs that meet the Elements of Effective Practice of MENTOR, the National Mentoring Partnership , youth mentoring holds great promise in helping young people succeed in life. Studies of both well-established programs and newer ones that provide youth with formal one-to-one mentoring relationships have provided strong evidence of their success in reducing the incidence of delinquency, substance abuse and academic failure. These studies further indicate that formal youth mentoring programs can promote positive outcomes, such as improved self-esteem, social skills and knowledge of career opportunities.

WHEREAS, Mentors in the State of Delaware have served as role models to young people identified by Communities In Schools and school staff as needing additional support, those transitioning from the Foster Care system to independent living, and others seeking to better their lives through social and academic supports; and

WHEREAS, Mentors seek to solve serious social problems by contributing their time, talent, and caring to support many public and nonprofits programs like Communities In Schools and Connecting Generations that assist their fellow Delawareans; and

WHEREAS, Schools in the city of Dover and throughout New Castle County have benefitted by hosting ten AmeriCorpsmembers assigned as mentor coordinators who also help to promote community service through the Youth Ambassador Program of Connecting Generations in partnership with Communities in Schools;

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 146^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that on the twenty-eighth day in the Month of March in the year two-thousand and twelve all Delaware residents are encouraged to become mentors, leaders and supporters in their local schools. On behalf of a grateful state, we applaud and recognize the work of Communities in Schools and Connecting Generations a true non-profit collaborative helping to connect students and schools to mentors and other vital services to achieve success in school and life.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution commends the work of Communities in Schools and Connecting Generations the program that provides mentoring in our schools. It also designates March 28^th to commemorate this program.

Author:Senator Henry