January 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 23

NRPA supported the agencies mentioned
in this article, as well as many
more, in their efforts to build effective
and evidence-based mentorship programs.
were
at risk for serious lifelong
complications due to generational
cycles of trauma, poverty and
substance use. These families needed
more than a day at the park or an
afternoon of family fun. However,
Elizabethton Parks and Recreation
and CCDP frequently lacked
resources to share, and often finished
events believing they had not done
enough for the parents or children
they
encountered.
They
could
not have asked for a more perfect
solution than the partnership with
NRPA and the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
PEAK Mentorship Program
The mission of the PEAK (Promoting
Esteem Among Kids) Mentorship
Program has always been to enable
youth to develop positive relationships
with caring adults. Their vision
is to help children develop healthy,
strong relationships and negate adverse
childhood experiences. With the
development and implementation of
Elizabethton/Carter County's mentorship
program, nearly 50 families
have been impacted by one-on-one
relationships created for at-risk youth.
Mentors are thoroughly screened and
asked to agree to the following:
* Make a one-year commitment
* Spend a minimum of eight hours
per month with a mentee
* Communicate with the mentee
weekly
* Attend an initial two-hour training
session and additional twohour
training
sessions
twice
during
each year of participation
in the program
* Attend optional mentor/mentee
group events, mentor support
groups and program recognition
events
For that one-year commitment,
the match is provided with resources,
materials, opportunities and individual
support from the PEAK
Mentorship Program coordinator
to enhance their relationship and to
navigate any needs that may arise
for mentees.
Battling Barriers
The PEAK program battled barriers
to implementing a successful
program. Parental skepticism
about participation was rampant
in the rural Appalachian community,
which often distrusts outside
influences on their families. Additionally,
due to the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic, the program
transitioned to a virtual format
for several months. Even with
these struggles, PEAK has been
able to overcome barriers and has
still seen amazing successes.
NRPA worked with MENTOR,
The National Mentoring Partnership,
to develop extensive resources
for any local park and recreation
agency interested
in
developing
their own mentoring programs and
have made those easily accessible.
These resources
allowed CCDP
and Elizabethton Parks and Recreation
to
implement
evidencebased
practices immediately upon
creation of the program and overcome
any struggles that
NRPA supported
arose.
the
agencies
mentioned in this article, as well
as many more, in their efforts to
build effective and evidence-based
mentorship programs that connect
youth with caring and compassionate
mentors while strengthening
connections across communities.
Without the support of NRPA,
CCDP and Elizabethton Parks and
Recreation would not have been
able to take their partnership to the
next level. Their community needed
a transition from general community
events and programming to
something deeper and more meaningful,
and NRPA provided that
opportunity.
Jilian Reece is Director of Carter County Drug Prevention
(director@cartercountydrugprevention.org).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | J ANUAR Y 2 0 2 3
| Parks & Recreation
23
January 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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