Kentucky CARES - Educators and Mentors - Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Just as adults spend a big part of their daytime hours at work, children and teens spend a big part their daytime hours at school and involved in after-school activities. Educators and mentors are in a unique position to observe students on a daily basis and play a leadership role in students' lives. As a mentor, coach, adviser or counselor, adults must be active participants in the lives of children.

According to a study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, a positive relationship with a teacher can greatly influence development of positive behaviors, like cooperation and altruism, and significantly reduce problem behaviors like aggression and defiance.

A study published by Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in 2013 found that youth who have mentors are much more confident in their academic abilities and less likely to display behavior problems. Girls in the study were four times less likely to bully, fight, lie or express anger than girls with no mentor.

Kentucky CARES provides program ideas and resources to educators and mentors to encourage engagement with the young people in their lives. These are only a few ideas to help you get started. How will you show that Kentucky CARES?

Additional Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - (800) 273-8255
Crisis Text Line - 74174
Connect with a Family Resource or Youth Services Center in your area.
Tell us about your Kentucky CARES project

Resources for Educators

Identify Isolated Students
Teachers across the country are implementing new strategies in identifying and helping students who may be struggling to engage with their peers. Read one teacher's account of how she reduced bullying in her school with a unique way to identify students who were isolated, withdrawn and subject to bullying.

Students who trust a teacher, have frequent conversations with them and receive guidance and praise are more likely to feel connected to both the teacher and the classroom.

This video demonstrates how beginning to build a relationship with a student can be as simple as having a secret handshake.

Youth mentoring programs help students develop and grow under the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable adult.

Find more mentor guides and handouts at the National Mentoring Resource Center website.

Parent/caregiver or youth cafés offer a safe space to connect, share and start conversations around building real-life protective factors in our homes and communities. The café model can be used in school- and community-based settings with adults or youth.

For more information on cafes, please email the Kentucky Strengthening Families office.

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer, more positive places for students to learn and grow. Because the program is not a curriculum, its core principles, rules and supportive materials can be adapted for any program children and youth attend on a regular basis, such as after-school programs, camps and community youth programs. Visit the Violence Prevention Works program website for more information about bullying prevention.

Kentucky CARES - Educators and Mentors

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