LISTEN TO CHILDREN A MENTORING PROGRAM OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION Listen to Children is a mentoring program which pairs trained and supervised Mental Health Association volunteers with children who are projected to benefit from a supportive relationship with a caring adult friend. Listener volunteers receive extensive training in listening skills, aspects of child and adolescent development, and in nonjudgmental communication.  The primary goal of the Listen to Children program is to establish a relationship with a child, or children, which facilitates the following outcomes for the child:  enhanced self esteem improved communication skills development of decision making and problem solving skills Listen to Children began serving youngsters in Broward County public schools in 1979. There are approximately 100 participating elementary schools, several middle schools, and off campus sites. Annually, up to 250 active Listener volunteers are paired to over 1,000 Broward school children.  Listen to Children is valued by school counselors, teachers and parents because volunteer Listener mentors maintain a consistent relationship, presenting themselves as reliable and observant of confidentiality with assigned children. Young children respond to one-on-one sharing in which they have the undivided attention of a caring adult friend.  Adolescents are served in small groups where their natural responsiveness to peer influence, facilitated by the adult Listener volunteer, is most effective.  Anyone who cares about and relates well to children can be trained to be a Listen to Children volunteer. Listener volunteers are male, female, young and old and represent the wide ethnic and cultural diversity that is reflected in our community.  It is the Mental Health Association's goal to provide a positive experience for each volunteer as we work together to provide a high quality of service to our community's children. Because Listener volunteers are friends and not therapists no special prior schooling or credentialing is needed. Completion of a Listener application, security screening, program training and post training in-service are required components.  For more information on how you can become a Listen to Children volunteer please contact the Mental Health Association.