The Perry County Community Task Force offers a variety of opportunities for interested individuals/companies to lend a helping hand.  Since all of the programs provided by the Task Force are grant funded, there is always a need for donations or matching funds.  We are a 501c3 tax-exempt organization, therefore donations are tax deductible.  Please contact us at (573) 547-1292 to find out how your money could benefit Perry County youth. Donations may be sent to:

 If you believe in the positive potential of a child and have an hour a week to give to one of the kids on the waiting list, you might want to consider being a mentor.  There are all kinds of kids with all kinds of needs, and you just might be the person to help them out.  If you would like the opportunity to work with one of the individuals on the CHAMPS Mentoring Program’s waiting list, please contact us at (573) 547-1292 for more information.

 Or, if you don’t feel that you can help financially or by being a mentor, you may be just the person we need for other projects such as carpentry work, design, etc.  Others in this situation have assisted us in building walls for our office, going fishing with the kids at service projects, or by donating expertise such as legal advice.  Your unique qualities may be just what we need.  Please contact us at (573) 547-1292 if you have a quality that you would like to share.

Not only do participants benefit through personal satisfaction of helping today’s youth, but they also have a chance to enjoy life by having fun with the person they are mentoring.

Company participation benefits both the youth and the company involved by improving the skills of youth entering the workforce.  Companies may also feel the personal satisfaction of helping today’s youth, while at the same time receive public recognition through the media and other marketing techniques.

If you are referring your own child, fill out the following forms (Letter of Permission, Checklist of Needs, Interest Inventory) and mail them to us at:

 If you are referring someone else’s child/youth, please complete and submit the referral form.  Click here to reach referral form.

 *Remember all youth participants must be Perry County residents.

The Perry County Community Task Force began in 1995 and has created 5 new programs.  All 5 programs continue to be a great success.  In January 2004, the Task Force received certification through the Division of Mental Health.  Paid professionals assist in the creation and implementation of the programs, which are based on model curriculums.  Other counties have also contacted the Task Force for assistance in setting up similar programs in their communities.

All mentors go through training and various background checks and policies have been written to prevent opportunities for abuse.  All mentors have also completed the Confidentiality Statement and Code of Ethics.

Counselors and contracted employees are always available to give assistance to both volunteers and participants.  These individuals are able to be contacted at any time, and will provide volunteers and participants with the one-on-one personal attention that they need to be successful.

Each child has a his own unique needs, and mentors are able to pick the children they feel they will personally be able to help the most.  Many of our youth have problems with self-esteem, and/or dealing with unstable homes.  Some are not doing well in school or do not have great expectations of themselves.  Others have experimented with drugs or do not have respect for others.   While there are many other behaviors and situations that cause these youth to be high-risk, these are the ones that seem to be most common.

Contact us!  We have monthly trainings for interested mentors.  Please RSVP for mentor training by calling (573) 547-1292.

There are numerous ways to assist with these programs.  Financial contributions to the Task Force are very important for without them, these programs will not be able to continue.  Guest speakers are often used to help motivate our youth to make the changes they need to make or to keep up their good work.  If you, or someone you, know would be interested in talking to Perry County’s substance abusing youth or high school dropouts, please contact us about presenting to these support groups.  We are always looking for ways to improve our programs, either through finding new ways to present information, finding healthy alternative activities to substance use, or by incorporating new ideas.  The present need for volunteers is not as great in these programs as it is in the CHAMPS Mentoring Program.  Please call (573) 547-1292 if you feel you can help in any way.

We plan to continue and improve programs that are already in place, to find local sustainability, and to help even more Perry County youth have a successful future.  We plan to begin additional programs for those youth who need support in areas other than what we currently offer.  As long as support and funding remain, we will continue to expand our programs to help more youth.

Mentors are not required to have any type of degree.  Mentors are required to successfully complete a background check, successfully complete mentor training, agree and sign a yearly Confidentiality Statement, and agree and sign a Code of Ethics.