TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN

Take Stock in Children is a state-wide strategy to alter the lives of Florida’s low-income children by giving them the opportunity to earn their own college tuition scholarship and provide each with the friendship of a caring adult in a simple, effective way to make a difference in their lives. 

The Take Stock in Children program of Nassau County is a partnership program in affiliation with Florida State College. Funding for Take Stock/Nassau is provided by local businesses, individuals, other organizations and governments, and a Department of Education grant through the Florida Mentoring Partnership and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation’s Project Star Program.

Take Stock students earn their scholarship. Each student must sign a contract with Take Stock in Children agreeing to maintain good grades, exhibit good behavior, remain drug and crime free, and meet with their mentor regularly. The parent/guardian of the student must also sign and agree to support and encourage their child’s academic success. If the commitments of the program are honored, upon graduation, the student will be awarded a four-year college tuition scholarship or a two year vocational school scholarship.

Along with the pledge of scholarship funds, the most vital commitment that Take Stock makes to each child who signs a contract and becomes a Take Stock scholar, is the promise of an adult mentor with whom they can build a relationship of support and trust. Each of us can look back to a time in our childhood, education or employment when our life was fundamentally altered for the better by a mentor-an uncle or aunt, a teacher or coach, a more experienced colleague. The powerful motivation, support and direction supplied by this Figure had a direct impact on our future success. Recognizing that all children deserve this kind of support, Take Stock promises each of its scholars that they will be assigned a personal mentor to meet with them for once a week at their school.

The mentors are the “glue” that holds the Take Stock scholars program together. They do the crucial one on one work of helping an individual child grow and develop, thereby ensuring the program’s success. The mentor recognizes if their student needs help from a tutor and Take Stock can lead their student to one.

Mentors are good listeners and good communicators, they help their student develop positive self image, assist in setting short and long term goals, help their student focus on possibilities, and encourage their student to be more involved in school in school activities and to develop interests outside of school.

A mentor’s commitment is for one school period (one hour) a week, but can have more time is they want it.  This short period of time is life changing for their student and leaves the mentor knowing they have have made a positive difference in their student’s life.