By Meghan McCormick
Julia Hicks has come up with a way for people to spend more time with children and give back to the Norman community.
Hicks, a student at the University of Oklahoma and a member of AmeriCorps with Oklahoma Serves program, is looking for volunteers for the Community After School Program's tutoring program.
"We started a program in September and have been looking for volunteers," she said.
Hicks said last semester, mentors were placed in four elementary schools. So far, the program is available at Adams, Eisenhower, McKinley and Washington elementary schools.
"We are expanding to five, and we want to expand to 16 schools to have tutoring for the children," she said.
Hicks said the program won't start up again until later this month. A definite date hasn't been set. There's no cost for children to attend.
"We ask tutors spend two days a week and 1 1/2 hours with children," she said.
She said volunteers would help children in reading and math and also assist in daily homework.
"We want the kids to have a bonding relationship with this person," she said. "One positive role model can influence their life."
Hicks said a high volunteer turnover rate exists because most volunteers are OU students whose schedules change each semester.
Terri Craig, Community After School Program executive director said younger and older adults are encouraged to sign up as mentors. Consistency with children is needed.
"We want to make sure volunteers can come at least twice a week," she said.
Craig said the mentoring program is driven by AmeriCorps members.
"They started it from the ground up with our oversight," she said. "Our hope is we get to a point it's strong enough to go on next year."
Hicks said a person must be at least 16 years old to volunteer for the program. Applications can be found on the Community After School Program's Web site: www.caspinc.org.
For more information, call 366-5970.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
