Mentoring makes a big difference in the lives of children and youth. It’s almost impossible to find anyone who doesn’t think that mentoring is a good thing. We have also seen research that indicates that just matching a youth with a mentor is not enough; we must ensure that it will be a quality relationship. AmeriCorps  members have helped the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota (MPM) support organizations to improve the quality of mentoring. Why, then, does the House of Representatives want to cut AmeriCorps, which not only has improved mentoring, but gotten things done in many areas?

I am disappointed to see lawmakers scale back investment in the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) programs, which include AmeriCorps. The appropriation bill cuts the CNCS budget from the White House’s requested budget, and it is expected that a bill will again be introduced this year that ends funding for CNCS. There are a greater number of people applying for AmeriCorps, 536,000 last year for 80,000 spots. There are an endless number of agencies who could use their services.

Let me share the difference five AmeriCorps members have made the past three years with the Mentoring Partnerships of Minnesota. MPM, in an effort to support mentoring programs and improve the quality of mentoring in the state, has introduced several new initiatives. These services required an increase in organizational capacity. AmeriCorps members added the essential extra capacity.

A new website and QMAP
One initiative was launching a new and improved website to better serve programs. It required registration so MPM could gather information on program contacts, services and practices. Mindy, an AmeriCorps member, was given responsibility for managing registration, including reaching out to programs about changes in the MPM website and encouraging them to complete the process. She produced results greater than expected and in a short timeframe.

A major new initiative was QMAP: Quality Mentoring Assessment Path. QMAP is a process that uses an online tool to help mentoring organizations assess program management, operations and evaluation methods based on best practice guidelines. Minnesota is leading the way in creating one of the best tools in the country. AmeriCorps member Shannon researched, vetted and linked online resources to each of the 99 items in the tool. She brought rigor, diligence and persistence to this project, producing a comprehensive resource list.

Last year an AmeriCorps member, Courtney, played a critical role supporting the further implementation of the QMAP process. She created tools to track the programs' participation, provided program updates, developed a procedure manual, and oversaw the transformation of information to a new database. She was a problem solver addressing operational issues that emerged as the new procedures were instituted.

Courtney also served as organizer of the Metro Mentor Network, MPM's long-standing peer networking opportunity for mentoring program staff. She developed meeting topics, did outreach to promote gatherings and handled logistics for the meeting.

Follow-up and identifying trends
This year's AmeriCorps member, Ashley, is doing follow-up work with QMAP participants and providing technical assistance for them. She is examining the data MPM is gathering and identifying trends so new and better resources can be added to QMAP.

I have witnessed the power of mentoring relationships, and have heard mentoring programs applaud MPM on the valuable resources it provides. I have come to understand how important quality mentoring is. I hope that AmeriCorps will be strong and grow so that national service can contribute and help MPM to do its work. Congress should recognize National Mentoring Month by supporting CNCS.

Jim Scheibel is Executive in Residence, School of Business, Hamline University. He is a former mayor of St. Paul and former vice president of CNCS. He serves on the board of Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota.