HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 229 Offered January 24, 2006 Designating the month of January, in 2006 and in each succeeding year, as Mentoring Month in Virginia and January 25th, in 2006 and in each succeeding year, as Thank Your Mentor Day in Virginia. ---------- Patron-- Miller ---------- Unanimous consent to introduce ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, the future course of the Commonwealth rests on the shoulders of its youth, and educated, confident, and nurtured children will give rise to a stronger Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, mentoring is a proven, effective strategy to create these circumstances by matching a caring, responsible adult with a child to provide guidance and build confidence, stability, and direction for that child; and

WHEREAS, research has shown that mentoring has a definitive impact on young people by increasing attendance at school, improving rates of high school graduation and college attendance, and decreasing involvement with drugs, alcohol, and violent behaviors; and

WHEREAS, of the 1.4 million school-age children in the Commonwealth, only 20,000 are in mentoring relationships, and many more children are on waiting lists for a mentor; and

WHEREAS, communities of faith, businesses, civic organizations, and the general community have joined together in dedication to improve the lives of America’s children through mentoring; and

WHEREAS, the most successful mentoring programs are those that have mentors who are trained and receive competent background checks and that have coordinators who receive support and technical assistance; and

WHEREAS, President George W. Bush has established January 2006 as National Mentoring Month to emphasize the importance of mentoring and recognize with praise and gratitude the many Americans already involved in mentoring; and

WHEREAS, the celebration of Mentoring Month and Thank Your Mentor Day on January 25th would above all encourage more people to volunteer as mentors to the benefit of the Commonwealth’s children; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, that the General Assembly designate the month of January, in 2006 and in each succeeding year, as Mentoring Month in Virginia and January 25th, in 2006 and in each succeeding year, as Thank Your Mentor Day in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the General Assembly call upon the residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia and interested groups to observe the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities that promote awareness of and volunteer involvement with youth mentoring; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of the month of January as Mentoring Month and January 25th as Thank Your Mentor Day on the General Assembly's website.