A multi-state mentoring program that originated in rural Utah continues to help Tooele youth despite funding cutbacks.

Youth and Families with Promise, a 4-H mentoring program for youth ages 10 through 14, has served around 80 youth since the program started in Tooele County in 2004, said Darlene Christensen, family consumer science agent with Utah State University Extension Service. As part of the state 4-H program, Youth and Families with Promise is supervised by the USU extension service.

The multi-generational mentoring program originated in Iron County in 1994 as part of a community effort to reduce and prevent juvenile delinquency. 4-H leaders in Iron County designed the program to be used with current 4-H activities to help improve academic performance, enhance social competencies, and strengthen family bonds in children who are at risk or come from dysfunctional families. The program is now used at 32 sites in Utah serving an average of 20 youth at each site, and the program has been picked up by 4-H in six other states.

In Tooele County, the program started in 2004 with a $25,000 grant from the state. The USU Extension Service in Tooele employed three people to organize and run the program, which served up to 25 youth through matches with adult mentors.

State funding for the program was lost two years ago, and it currently operates on a $8,000 annual budget supported by Tooele City, Tooele County and local contributions. With one part-time site coordinator, the program currently serves 10 youth.

The program matches students that are at risk -- as identified by school counselors -- with adult volunteers. The volunteers participate in one activity a week with students, a monthly family-night-out activity organized by the site coordinator, and the youth are automatically registered as 4-H members and can participate in all 4-H activities.

Volunteers undergo an interview and background check and receive training. The volunteers continue to receive support through individual monthly contact from the site coordinator.

"It is a wonderful program and studies by Utah State University have shown it is effective in helping kids academically and socially," said Reine Baker, site coordinator for Tooele County.

Lois McArthur has been a "grand-mentor" since the program started. McArthur has worked with three different girls that either moved or grew out of the program.

"The first girl I worked with moved away five years ago, but we still stay in touch. It has been very rewarding," said McArthur.

McArthur works on crafts with the girls and attends their school functions. McArthur has noted an increase in self-confidence in the girls.

"I do things a grandparent would ordinarily do with her granddaughter," said McArthur.

Kendall Thomas, another "grand-mentor" and a former member of the Tooele County School Board, has been volunteering in the program since March.

"I missed the association I had with young people while serving on the school board," said Thomas, who has high praise for the program and the support he receives as a mentor.

"I took my boy out to Stockton to wash windows for an elderly lady," said Thomas. "I told him we need to do service. He wasn't too excited, but on the way home he turned to me and said, 'We need to do more of this.'"

Grand-mentors are great, said Thomas, but the program could use some younger mentors as well. Mentors need to be at least 18 years old. People interested in mentoring can contact Reine Baker, site coordinator for Youth and Families with Promise at 496-3244.

"I don't know how many times I've heard people say that our youth are what is wrong with the world today," said Thomas. "Through mentoring I can save the world, one child at a time."

Tim Gillie: tgillie@tooeletranscript.com