(AP) — Some University of Nebraska-Lincoln students have been learning valuable lessons in mentoring troubled youths.

Anne Hobbs teaches the two-semester juvenile mentoring class. She said each student is matched with one youth at the Geneva or Kearney youth treatment and rehabilitation centers. The students see their mentees once every other week during the fall and spring semesters. The goal is to provide positive role models to the juveniles and train the college students to work with troubled youths.

Students spend months with their mentees and expect the relationships they’ve built to blossom once the youths are released. But, says Hobbs, the younger people often sever those ties.

Hobbs says “the addiction is so strong with these kids.”