The Volunteers of Issaquah Changing Education (VOICE) Mentor Program matches caring, dependable community volunteers with students in the Issaquah Schools referred by teachers and counselors as needing help. Mentors are a positive presence in the students' lives and help support students in the areas of school academics, organizational skills, social behavior and work ethic.

Description:
Funded by the Issaquah Schools Foundation, the VOICE Program matches community volunteers with Issaquah School District students referred by teachers, counselors and/or parents. The VOICE mentor is partnered with a student for a minimum of one hour per week working one on one. VOICE mentors meet during school hours on school grounds. The VOICE mentor works in cooperation with school staff to help meet the needs of the student. These community members are valuable resources for our young people. VOICE mentors claim they get much satisfaction and joy from working with these struggling students and appreciate the opportunity to get to know the student and work with them on a weekly basis. A strong bond is made between mentor and student and a relationship that we encourage to be continued beyond the one year commitment.

History:
The VOICE Mentor Program grew out of a needs assessment done by the Issaquah Schools Foundation to help better meet the needs of struggling students. The fall of 2008 begins our fifth year and we hope to reach out to even more students who are in need of another caring adult in their life to assist them in their academic, social and/or emotional challenges. We presently have one hundred thirty students with mentors and could easily place double that this school year. We recruit community volunteers from the Issaquah, South Bellevue, Sammamish, Newcastle and Renton communities to be in-school volunteers mentor for a student for one hour per week. Mentors are warmly welcomed into our schools and are valued for their work with Issaquah students.

Contact person: Susan Gierke, VOICE Program Director, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (425) 837-7175

Address:

555 NW Holly Street Issaquah, WA 98027 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.Issaquahschoolsfoundation.org;www.issaquah.wednet.edu

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	No
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	No
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes