Building a Successful Mentoring Program

Using the Mentor Michigan Quality Program Standards for

Youth Mentoring

Definition & Recruitment Plan

Quality Program Standards

1: Definition of Youth Mentoring2: Recruitment Plan3: Eligibility Screening4: Orientation and Training5: Matching Strategy6: Match Monitoring Process7: Mentor Support, Recognition, and Retention8: Match Closure9: Program Evaluation10: Organizational Management11: Governance

Mentor Michigan’s Quality Program Standards

• Developed by the Providers Council

• Not meant to certify or accredit mentoring programs

• Planning and assessment framework

Quality Program Standards and Checklist are available for download on the Mentor Michigan website– www.mentormichigan.org

Definition & Recruitment Plan

• Standard 1: Definition of Youth Mentoring

• Standard 2: Recruitment Plan– Finding and recruiting mentor and

volunteers for your program

Standard 1: Definition of Youth Mentoring

• Ongoing, structured relationship with a trusted individual aimed at developing the competence and potential of the mentee– Consistent contact– Meeting frequency– Match duration– Group mentoring

Community-based mentoring programs: A minimum of one calendar yearMeetings must occur several times each month

for a minimum of four (4) hours per month

School-based mentoring programs:A minimum of one academic yearWeekly contact between mentors and mentees

Group Mentoring:Ratio of mentees to mentors no more than 4:1

(four mentees to one mentor)Consistency

Standard 1: Definition of Youth Mentoring

“The program defines mentoring as an ongoing, structured relationship with a

trusted individual aimed at developing the competence and potential of the mentee”

• MOST important standard

Standard 1: Definition of Youth Mentoring

Match Duration and Intensity

• Best youth outcomes when matches meet for at least one year and for an hour a week, on average– Calendar or academic year, depending

on the program

• Youth with the longest matches receive the most benefits from mentoring

Questions?

Standard 2: Recruitment Plan

Comprehensive recruitment plan for mentors and mentees

– Thoughtful

– Well Executed

Standard 2: Recruitment Plan

System for timely mentor and mentee follow-up and enrollment

– Portray expectations, eligibility, and benefits

– Marketing and public relations– Targeted outreach– Clearly stated program goals and

objectives– Position description– Other volunteer opportunities

Recruiting Volunteers

• Ongoing process– Comprehensive Recruitment Plan– Evaluation

• 50% of those who volunteer do so because they were asked– Make the “ask”

Using Current Volunteers

• Current volunteers, particularly mentors, are the best recruiters of new volunteers– Credibility– Involve existing volunteers in both the

message’s design and delivery

• 96% of existing mentors would recommend it to others

Tips For Recruiting Your Mentors

• Target and Inform Your Audience

• Build Community Commitment

• Mobilize Community Action

POLL

Why do people volunteer?

Why Do People Volunteer?

• To help their community

• Gain experience – resume building

• To feel good about themselves– Recognition

• Sense of belonging

• Give back what they were given

• Use or build their talents and skills

• Belief in the mission of the program

Volunteer Position Description

• Program Description

• Position Description

• Commitment Time

• Areas of Involvement

• Qualifications

• Responsibilities

POLL

Where do you look for mentors and other volunteers for your program?

Where have you had the

most success?

Finding Volunteers

• College campuses• Volunteer centers• Volunteer recruitment websites

– Mentor Michigan Directory, and many others!

• Neighborhood associations• Faith-based communities and organizations• Senior citizens and retirees• Social, civic, fraternal, and service

organizations• Etc.

Recruitment Plan

• What?

• How?

• Who?

• When?

• Where?

• Review and revision process

Recruitment Package

• Program overview or fact sheet• Mentor roles and responsibilities• Application form• Mentor matching form• Mentor agreement• Confidentiality statement• Mentor activities policy sheet• Eligibility criteria• Benefits of mentoring list• Any other relevant information about your

program

Recruiting Male Mentors

• Do you find recruiting male mentors for your youth mentoring program is especially challenging?– Traditional recruitment techniques do not

seem to motivate the male audience to become mentors

– Personal “ask”

Recruiting Male Mentors

• Men in Mentoring Toolkit– Talking points– Components of a complete recruitment

message– Free download available on our website –

www.mentormichigan.org

Now What?• Quality Program Standards and Program Self-

Assessment Checklist

• Elements of Effective Practice Toolkit– www.mentoring.org/eeptoolkit– Sample recruitment plan, mentor position description, etc

• Bring this information back to YOUR mentoring program– How successful have your recruitment efforts been?– Do you have a comprehensive recruitment plan?– Could you be reaching a broader audience?

• Mentor Michigan Website– www.mentormichigan.org– Handouts, resources, related websites– Webinars on a variety of topics– Men in Mentoring Toolkit

Questions or Comments?