In 2007, United Way’s "Helping Youth Succeed" Volunteer Investment Team challenged the community to give young people in Cheyenne a chance to be competent members of society. The team researched the needs of youth in Cheyenne and asked United Way to support programs that help kids demonstrate responsible behavior; motivate and involve parents in efforts to become better parents; and invest the community in valuing youth.

Youth Alternatives/Special Friends Mentor Plus Volunteer Program is a success story that's put words into action:

Adult mentors are screened and enrolled
The screening process includes opportunities for mentors to select from a variety of mentoring opportunities ranging from one to one matches with young, school age children to adolescents in the Juvenile Court System.

Adult mentors are matched with adolescents ages 12-17, who need a good role model and need to learn how to have fun without getting in trouble.

Mentors spend 3-4 hours a week with their youth match. Activities range from recreation to video games to eating pizza - whatever helps them begin to build a friendship and become trusting friends. OYA/Special Friends staff provide the match with structure and support. The community donates discounts to participate in community activities.

Adult mentors and adolescent youth commit together to add a young child to their mentor time together.
Children, ages 6-10 from the Special Friends waiting list are matched with the adult mentor and adolescent youth. Together they continue to participate in building positive relationships and being good role models through fun activities. Now, the adolescent as well as the adult are being positive role models.

(Names of youth have been changed to protect confidentiality)
Adult volunteer mentor, Darryle Laping, his adolescent match, Adam and their Special Friend, Griego are an example of Mentor Plus at its best. As a young teen, Adam struggled to feel good about himself. He had difficulty at school with work and friends. He found every excuse not to attend and ended up on probation through Youth Alternatives. He was matched with Police Officer, John Radomicki. In just a few months, Adam’s attitude changed. He began to like himself, attend school regularly and improved his grades. His mother even commented on his improved behavior at home. Adam successfully completed his probation and concluded his match with Officer Radomicki. A few months later Griego joined Special Friends. He is an 11 year old who lives with his Mom. Griego struggled with the same self esteem issues as Adam. He easily had hurt feelings and felt others did not like him. Adam, who is now 16, agreed to become a Mentor Plus volunteer. He joins Court Mentor, Darryle Laping each week, spending time with Griego. They’ve gone bowling and played at the Warren Air Force Base gym. Adam comments on how much Griego reminds him of himself a short time ago.

Joe and his daughter Megan, 13 want to improve their father-daughter relationship. Joe is also a volunteer with Youth Alternatives. As he prepared to be matched with a little boy in Special Friends, we suggested Megan join him in the mentoring. Now Joe and Megan are busy becoming friends as Mentor Plus volunteers with 7 year old Jacob. The mentor role has been a great ego booster for Megan and has helped Joe see his daughter, Megan in a new light.

Special Friends continues to develop Mentor Plus matches to help address the ever growing list of young boys who need positive male role models in their lives. Currently there are 15 children on the Special Friends waiting list. At the same time, teens and their parents or an adult and court mentored youth are finding out they have a lot to offer by becoming mentors themselves.

Thank you to the Cheyenne community and United Way for supporting Youth Alternatives and Special Friends with funding, community donations and volunteering to be a child’s hero.