Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Uses the Rankings to Recruit Volunteer Mentors

Around the country, groups are using the Rankings in creative ways to improve local health. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, cited the county’s poor rankings in social support for children to inspire residents to volunteer as mentors to at-risk students. This local RSVP initiative launched a 60 in 60 Initiative in an effort to recruit 60 new mentors in 60 days (or by December 8). 

According to the 2012 Wisconsin County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, 31 percent of the children in Kenosha County are living in single-parent households and 19 percent receive inadequate social support. 

Decreasing these unacceptable percentages may seem to be an impossible task. Yet, there are numerous city and county organizations that focus on this issue every day by providing mentors for at-risk students. In fact, more than 300 students in this area are currently matched with an adult mentor. 

This is just one of the many creative ways that you can use the County Health Rankings to make your community a better place to live, learn, work and play. Are you using the Rankings in your work? 

• Share your story with us
• Learn more about Kenosha’s RSVP Mentoring Project