Natural Helpers is a national program based on the premise that when young people have problems, they most often turn to friends whom they trust for help, and that within every school an informal "helping network" exists.

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Mariposa Academic Boosters Club, Inc. was able to make funds available to the Mariposa County High School counseling department to once again provide students the opportunity to participate in the Natural Helpers program. This is the fifth year of the program at MCHS. Previous funding came from the Alliance for Community Transformations.

Natural Helpers trains students to have the skills they need to be better listeners and to help other students find resources based on what they hear.

Every other year as part of the program, MCHS provides these students with a workshop on mental health issues for teens. It’s a national program provided by Mariposa County Behavioral Health. It was offered last year and hopefully will be offered again next year.

For this year’s program, over a two-day period at the Yosemite Bug and Mountain Resort, students will go through a series of training modules that include active listening and how to handle serious disclosures. Students are not being trained to be counselors, but rather they are gaining skills to help other students, whether they are approached by friends and acquaintances with problems, or they happen to overhear a conversation, or notice something happening on campus.

“We have a listening skills model that we use to train the students,” said MCHS Counselor Lori Ritter. “We also focus on issues that typically come up and address what is appropriate for students to handle and what they need to bring to us.”

The application process is open now through Friday, September 9, 2016.

Candidates are nominated by teachers or by students who went through the Natural Helpers program in previous years. Students also hear about the opportunity through MCHS’s morning announcements. All students with good academic standing are welcome to apply. Applications are available in the counseling office.

Successful candidates are students who are easy to talk to and who others turn to for guidance. They convey non-judgmental attitudes and a caring personality. They are willing to help a friend in need and are trustworthy and respectful.

Up to twenty-four students will be chosen to participate.

On Friday, September 30, Audrey Davis and Tyson Wellcome from the Alliance for Community Transformations provide the successful candidates with training focused on healthy relationships – a big issue for high school students. 

Saturday, October 1, the training provided by high school counselor Lori Ritter and counseling technician Flora Savage covers active listening and how to be a positive resource for other students.

Flora Savage and teacher Aaron Marcus will be on site throughout the event, helping with the training and supervision.

After initial trainings, students meet with counselors once a month at lunch time for follow ups, and any other time as needed.

ABC is thrilled to have received funding from a very generous donor to continue this valuable program at Mariposa County High School. For more information about the program, contact Dr. Lori Ritter at MCHS: (209) 742-0260 ext. 2237.

Mariposa Academic Boosters Club, Inc. (ABC) A 501c3 organization whose mission is to supplement and enrich academic experiences and provide educational tools for Mariposa County High School students. For more information, contact abc.mchs@gmail.com or “like” ABC on Facebook: Mariposa Academic Boosters Club.