Saginaw, Michigan – July 27, 2005 – Today First Gentleman Mulhern addressed mentoring professionals from the Saginaw area to discuss quality standards recommended for mentoring programs in Michigan. The Mentor Michigan Providers Council, a body of 20 mentoring experts from across the state, drafted the standards from best practices developed by national, state, and local organizations. The standards will help parents and guardians as well as those running mentoring programs understand what quality mentoring looks like. First Gentleman Mulhern is presenting the standards and seeking feedback from mentoring professionals throughout the state at four Regional Trainings – the second was held today at Saginaw Valley State University. Once the Standards are discussed and feedback incorporated, they will be adopted by Mentor Michigan and mentoring programs statewide. “These standards are consistent with the Governor’s agenda to protect Michigan families – especially our children,” said First Gentleman Mulhern at the Mentor Michigan Regional Training in Saginaw. “It’s critical that the 30,000 children in Michigan involved with mentors have experiences that elevate them and increase their chances of success.” “Research shows that certain program components are necessary for children to benefit from having a mentor,” said Janet Lawson, Executive Director of the Michigan Community Service Commission, the organization managing Mentor Michigan. “Many of the mentoring programs in Michigan currently meet the standards. In the coming months, Mentor Michigan will develop training to assist those who do not.” Mentor Michigan will continue to seek feedback through August at Regional Trainings in Detroit, Muskegon, and Marquette. Mentoring programs that are unable to attend one of the Regional Meetings can offer their feedback on the standards by visiting http://www.mentormichigan.org/. All feedback must be received by September 2, 2005. Background Mentor Michigan led by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern, is working to ensure that all of our youth have stable, ongoing relationships with caring individuals. Together with mentoring programs throughout the state, Mentor Michigan recruits mentors, develops partners and champions, advocates for mentoring issues and standards, provides resources and training, and recognizes the accomplishments of mentors and the organizations that support them.