News
January 3, 2018Sponsor-A-Scholar Earns National Recognition for Mentoring Best Practices, First in the Region
Capital Region Sponsor-A-Scholar announced that it recently joined the National Mentoring Quality System (NQMS) after a one year-long process of evaluation and programmatic improvement thanks to a technical assistance grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and ongoing partnership with Mentor New York. Sponsor-A-Scholar is the first mentoring organization in the Capital Region to earn this recognition. NQMS assures compliance with the highest level of mentor recruitment, screening, training and supervision practices. This certification is valid for three years, after which the organization must reapply to retain the NQMS badge.
Robin Christenson, Sponsor-A-Scholar’s executive director, said: “I am thrilled that the wonderful work of our mentors, mentor coordinators and staff has helped us to join the community of quality mentoring programs across the country. I know this recognition will help us to create new partnerships which will help us develop new opportunities for our Scholars going forward.”
Jean Lahage Cohen, Mentor New York’s executive director, said: “By participating in an assessment system, in conjunction with nationally accepted mentoring standards and the unifying champion for mentoring in New York State, Mentor New York, Capital Region Sponsor-A-Scholar demonstrates its best practices and embarks on a continuous innovation and improvement plan. The goals are always focused on better outcomes for the youth they serve and we congratulate them on their efforts.”
The recognition is especially timely, as January is National Mentoring Month, when organizations across the country highlight the impact that mentors have on the youth enrolled in their programs. Sponsor-A-Scholar will be hosting its 5th annual Holiday Homecoming event on January 9th to celebrate the mentors and Scholars involved in its college access and success programs. More information is available at www.crsas.org.
