BILL NUMBER: SCR 61INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Price JANUARY 6, 2010 Relative to proclaiming National Mentoring Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 61, as introduced, Price. National Mentoring Month. This measure would proclaim the month of January 2010 as National Mentoring Month. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, The citizens of California recognize that our success depends on helping every child succeed in school and reach his or her full potential in life, and realize that young people need a solid foundation of support that will help them become well-educated, confident, and productive citizens; and WHEREAS, Mentoring is a proven, effective strategy that helps children and young adults by matching them with caring, responsible adults who can provide guidance and direction and build their confidence; and WHEREAS, Mentors build character, encourage success, boost confidence, lift expectations, and expand the universe of a child, serving as friends, role models, teachers, and sources of stability and support during a critical time in a child's life; and WHEREAS, Research shows that mentoring has beneficial long-term effects on youth by increasing their chances of high school graduation and college attendance and decreasing the likelihood of substance abuse and other risky behaviors; and WHEREAS, Mentoring strengthens our state's economic and social well-being by helping young people fulfill their potential while helping maintain healthy families and promoting more vibrant communities; and WHEREAS, Every day, residents of California are making a profound difference in the lives of our young people by serving as mentors, supported by many private and public sector organizations that offer mentoring opportunities for youth; and WHEREAS, Thousands of California's children are in need of a caring adult mentor in their lives, and closing this mentoring gap will take more investment, more partnerships, and more volunteers ready to make a difference in a child's life; and WHEREAS, The Obama Administration is working to expand mentoring and other volunteer opportunities across America through its United We Serve initiative, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and other agencies and programs; and WHEREAS, National Mentoring Month is an opportunity to raise public awareness of the importance of mentoring, to recognize the dedicated individuals who serve as mentors, and to encourage more citizens to help build a brighter future for California's youth through mentoring; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the month of January 2010 as National Mentoring Month, and calls upon the people of the State of California to recognize the importance of mentoring, to look for opportunities to serve as mentors in their communities, and to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.