DE SCR8

Designates January 2025 as "National Mentoring Month" in Delaware and encourages all Delawareans to support mentoring efforts for young people

Recognizes mentoring as an evidence-based practice that improves youth mental health, reduces unhealthy coping mechanisms, and strengthens relationships with parents, teachers, and peers

Highlights that mentoring programs improve academic outcomes including higher graduation rates, reduced dropout rates, better attendance, grades, and test scores

Notes that nearly one-third of young people in the United States lack a trusted adult outside their home for guidance, emphasizing the need to address the "mentoring gap"

Emphasizes benefits for at-risk youth including foster youth and those in the juvenile justice system, with improvements in mental health, employment, and reduced likelihood of drug and alcohol use