research in action #1
Post on 27-Jan-2015
108 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Research in Action Series
Mentoring: A Key Resource for Promoting Positive Youth Development
Overview of Research in Action Series
• MENTOR has developed an innovative series - Research in Action
• Translates the latest research on mentoring into tangible strategies for mentoring practitioners.
• Makes the best available research accessible and relevant to the mentoring field.
• Using the Research in Action series, programs can ensure their practices are based on current research, resulting in improved services and better impacts for young people.
• 10 issues
• Each issue provides: – Research– Action – Resources
Overview of Research in Action Series
Research in Action Issues:
1. Mentoring: A Key Resource for Promoting Positive Youth Development
2. Effectiveness of Mentoring Program Practices3. Program Staff in Youth Mentoring Programs:
Qualifications, Training, and Retention4. Fostering Close and Effective Relationships in Youth
Mentoring Programs5. Why Youth Mentoring Relationships End6. School-Based Mentoring7. Cross-Age Peer Mentoring8. Mentoring Across Generations: Engaging 50+ Adults
as Mentors9. Youth Mentoring: Do Race and Ethnicity Really
Matter?10. Mentoring: A Promising Intervention for Children of
Prisoners
Mentor Michigan Webinar Series
• www.mentormichigan.org
• Click on “Training & Technical Assistance”
Issue 1: Mentoring: A Key Resource for Promoting Positive Youth Development
• Richard M. Lerner, Ph.D., Aerika S. Brittian, and Kristen E. Fay, Tufts University
• Issue available for free download at MENTOR’s website– www.mentoring.org– “Access Research” Tab Research in
Action
Issue 1 – Overview
• Introduction to the positive youth development (PYD) perspective
• Implications for Mentors– C’s of PYD
• Research Conclusions
• ACTION Section
• Resources
Positive Youth Development (PYD)
• Two key ideas:– All young people possess strengths– Positive youth development may be
promoted when youth strengths are aligned with the strengths present in their families, communities, and schools
Four Ecological Assets that Promote PYD
1. The individuals in young people’s lives
2. The institutions present in their community
3. Opportunities for youth and adults to work together in valued community activities
4. Access to these people and institutions
Most Important Asset: Mentors
• Assets can be identified in any setting within which youth live and develop—families, schools, and communities
• The presence of mentors is the most important asset for PYD that exists in communities
• Mentoring Capacity of youth to engage in high-quality social relationships, to have greater academic achievement, school engagement, school adjustment, and to view their futures more positively
“Big 3” Features of Youth Development Programs
1. Sustained, positive adult-youth relations
2. Youth life-skill building activities
3. Youth participation and leadership of valued community activities.
PYDYouth
Contributions
Competence Connection
Confidence
Character
Caring
EffectiveCommunity-Based
Youth DevelopmentPrograms
Sustained Youth-AdultPartnerships
Youth Leadership
Skill-BuildingActivities
Youth Development: The Big Three Features and the Five Cs
Implications For Mentors
• Interactions with mentees should reflect the Big 3
• Assure youth gain access to four key ecological assets in their communities
• Help to develop each of the Cs of positive youth development
The Five Cs
• Competence
• Confidence
• Connection
• Character
• Caring
• And sometimes… Contribution
Competence
• Support your mentee’s passions and activities
• Encourage your mentee to pursue interests, activities, or hobbies that emphasize their skills
• Help your mentee “transfer” their skills
• Involve your mentee in making decisions
• Turn mistakes into teachable moments
Confidence
• Help the mentee develop a team of supporters
• Share your experiences
• Be on the lookout for obstacles that may challenge their confidence
• Connect the mentee to people and organizations to build social capital (networking)
Connection
• Be respectful of the mentee’s privacy, while still working to get to know them
• Create opportunities for the mentee to have their voice heard in the community
Character
• Discuss and explain why some behaviors are unacceptable
• Model good behaviors
• Provide a sense of perspective
• Provide opportunities for the mentee to make their own decisions
Caring
• Hang back when the mentee is not receptive and wait for an opportunity to talk and respond
• Model caring in interactions with their mentee and in the community
• Encourage mentees to join organization and promote caring and social justice in the world around them
Contribution
• Encourage mentees to advocate for causes
• Encourage people and institutions to welcome youth participation
• Provide support and resources to help mentees succeed
• Allow the mentee to experience and learn from disappointment
Conclusions from Research
• Effective mentoring is an important developmental asset
• You can facilitate the development of the several key indicators of positive youth development
• Within “Big 3” features of YD programs, you have many possible actions to take to foster positive youth development
ACTION:Incorporating PYD Principals
• Mentors need to learn the general principals of positive youth development
• Program staff should provide practical activities and advice to support mentors in their efforts– Activity Cards– Reflection Sheet
Activity Cards
• Photocopy and share with mentors
• Leave room to add additional ideas
Mentor Reflection Sheet
• Provides an opportunity to reflect on activities and conversations that fostered the six Cs
• Let mentors know that each thing they list is providing their mentee with access to more assets
National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth (NCFY)
Free information service for communities, organizations, and individuals interested in developing new and effective strategies for supporting young people and their families.
Online Training:“Introduction to Positive Youth Development”
www.ncfy.com/pyd
National organization that provides training and technical assistance to youth mentoring programs– http://educationnorthwest.org/nmc– Understanding the Youth Development
Model– Putting Youth Development Principles to
Work in Mentoring Programs– A Mentor’s Guide to Youth Development
Education Northwest: National Mentoring Center
Resources: Search Institute
Provides leadership, information, and resources to promote positive healthy development of youth.
• The 40 Developmental Assets for Youth
www.search-institute.org/assets
Questions or Comments?
This presentation provides an overview
of Research in Action Issue 1: Mentoring: A Key Resource for
Promoting Positive Youth Development
This tool was produced by MENTOR/The National Mentoring
Partnership and can be accessed on their website:
www.mentoring.org
top related