[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 367 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 367

       Designating January 2012 as ``National Mentoring Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 2, 2012

  Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Kerry) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
       Designating January 2012 as ``National Mentoring Month''.

Whereas mentoring is a longstanding tradition in which a dependable, caring 
        adult provides guidance, support, and encouragement to facilitate the 
        social, emotional, and cognitive development of a young person;
Whereas continued research on mentoring shows that formal, high-quality 
        mentoring focused on developing the competence and character of the 
        mentee promotes positive outcomes, such as improved academic 
        achievement, self-esteem, social skills, and career development;
Whereas further research on mentoring provides strong evidence that mentoring 
        successfully reduces substance use and abuse, academic failure, and 
        delinquency;
Whereas mentoring, in addition to preparing young people for school, work, and 
        life, is extremely rewarding for the people who serve as mentors;
Whereas more than 5,000 mentoring programs in communities of all sizes across 
        the United States focus on building strong, effective relationships 
        between mentors and mentees;
Whereas approximately 3,000,000 young people in the United States are in formal 
        mentoring relationships due to the remarkable vigor, creativity, and 
        resourcefulness of the thousands of mentoring programs in communities 
        throughout the United States;
Whereas, in spite of the progress made in increasing mentoring, the United 
        States has a serious ``mentoring gap'', with nearly 15,000,000 young 
        people in need of mentors;
Whereas mentoring partnerships between the public and private sectors bring 
        State and local leaders together to support mentoring programs by 
        preventing duplication of efforts, offering training in industry best 
        practices, and making the most of limited resources to benefit young 
        people in the United States;
Whereas the designation of January 2012 as ``National Mentoring Month'' will 
        help call attention to the critical role mentors play in helping young 
        people realize their potential;
Whereas a month-long celebration of mentoring will encourage more individuals 
        and organizations, including schools, businesses, nonprofit 
        organizations, faith institutions, and foundations, to become engaged in 
        mentoring across the United States; and
Whereas, most significantly, National Mentoring Month--

    (1) will build awareness of mentoring; and

    (2) will encourage more people to become mentors and help close the 
mentoring gap in the United States: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the month of January 2012 as ``National 
        Mentoring Month'';
            (2) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
        millions of caring adults and students who are already 
        volunteering as mentors; and
            (3) encourages more adults and students to volunteer as 
        mentors.
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