The New Year is here, and there is no better time than now to brainstorm ways to make this next year great. Here are a few suggestions to consider on volunteering, adjusting your health regimen, or starting a new adventure. Check out some of our recommendations below to get in the spirit.
Become a Mentor
January is National Mentoring Month (NMM), which focuses on how individuals and organizations can work together to mentor youth around the nation to make a positive impact in their lives. The NMM Become a Mentor page offers helpful resources for those interested in becoming a mentor in their state. Benefits.gov also houses information on a few mentoring programs, including the U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership. Get involved and make a difference this year!
Take Care of Your Health
For those with a family history or personal experience with life-threatening diseases, it is wise to get educated on ways to stay healthy and take preventative measures. The first step in understanding your health begins with getting screened for cancer symptoms, heart disease, and other diseases—screening is a smart habit for anyone looking to stay healthy. Many common types of screenings are covered under Medicaid. Both Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) have state-run programs to help provide coverage to those who qualify across the country.
Apply for a Scholarship
Are you a student interested in studying abroad? Are you a teacher interested in teaching English as a Second Language (ESOL) around the world or a prospective Doctoral candidate looking to help fund your research? If so, Benefits.gov has many Grant, Scholarship, and Fellowship opportunities that you may be eligible for. Take some time to browse this category and find your next opportunity to kick off the new year!
Consider New Career Opportunities
The New Year is a great time to consider joining the job market or even switching career paths. Explore CareerOneStop.org, the flagship career, training, and job search website for the U.S. Department of Labor. The website serves job seekers, businesses, students, and career advisors with a variety of free online tools, information, and resources.
Whether you make changes in your health, career, or volunteer your time, you have an opportunity to start the year off on the right foot. We encourage you to take the Benefit Finder questionnaire to find information on over 1,000 government benefits that you may be eligible to receive.
