The Touchstone Foundation recently awarded Youth Mentorship Partnership funds. This new program supports training to allow staff members and volunteers to become mentors for youth mental wellness in Lancaster County. The Touchstone Foundation has awarded a total of $47,000 to Bench Mark Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County.

Bench Mark Program is a strength-based family of mentors supporting highly at-risk youths through community-based intervention and diversion initiatives. Using the funds from the Touchstone Foundation, the program will seek to enhance the effectiveness of mentoring services available to at-risk youths within Bench Mark Program's open gym, where both individual and group services are available. An estimated 47 youths will receive mentoring.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region's evidence-based program creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships. The new funds will support the organization's High School Bigs Program for elementary and middle school students in need of a special mentoring friendship; the students have demonstrated the need for enhanced social skills or feel isolated from their peers. An estimated 100 youths will receive mentoring.

CASA provides a court-appointed volunteer advocate to every child who is abused and neglected to ensure children have a safe, nurturing, and permanent home. The organization's Older Youth Mentorship Project will provide advocates with mentorship training so they can assist older youths in becoming self-sufficient, independent adults. The program will seek to bridge the barriers to success and connectivity to the community. An estimated 275 youths will receive mentorship support.

In total, the three organizations estimate they will serve 422 Lancaster County youths with mentoring in the coming year.

Last year, the Touchstone Foundation completed a youth listening tour and parent feedback survey, which revealed that many youths welcome the opportunity to connect with a trained, safe, supportive adult mentor. The three partner organizations will seek to ensure youth safety through mandated reporter training to prevent child abuse, complete Youth Mental Health First Aid training for adults working with youths, and ensure that mentors understand trauma-informed care to support youth growth and development through adversity.

The Touchstone Foundation's mission is to elevate youth mental wellness in Lancaster County. The foundation seeks to build the talent pipeline in mental health care, increase access to youth mental health services, and create awareness and education about youth mental wellness.