Using the 4-H Health Rocks Curriculum, 18 Nelson County High School students were trained to mentor Old Kentucky Home Middle School students on substance use and prevention. The high school students went through a 3-day intensive training to plan and implement weekly sessions for the middle school students. The training consisted of learning how to work with different ages of students, try different activities from the curriculum, and work together as a team to prepare for mentoring. 10 out of the 18 students that were trained indicated in an evaluation that they were definitely going to participate in the mentorship program with the middle school students. Some of their goals presented: “Have an impact on others to where they will open up to me.”, “Help those that are in need of the information.”, and “To get the mentees really engaged with the program.”

Each week the high school students develop a plan and gather supplies during their leadership class period and then travel to middle school to meet the students where they are. This program would not be possible without the collaboration and support of the FRYSC Coordinator at NCHS and OKH, Stacie Vittitow. Mrs. Vittitow selects middle school students that need this mentorship based on their home life. Each of the middle school students took a pre-test on their knowledge of information being shared with them and a post-evaluation will be conducted at the culmination of this program.