Building a Successful Mentoring Program

Using the Mentor Michigan Quality Program Standards for

Youth Mentoring

Orientation & Training

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 to

raise the bar for mentoring programs• Standards based on research, evidence-

based practices, and the national Elements of Effective Practice

Self-Assessment Checklist

• Tool for self-assessment• Benchmarks for progress• Determine areas of potential

improvement and strengths of the organization

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

Standard 4: Orientation & Training

• Standard 4 – Orientation & Training– Orientation Plan

• Mentees• Mentors

– Mentor Training Plan– Importance

• Next Steps

POLL

My program has an orientation plan for:

–Mentors

–Mentees

–Parent/Guardian

–All of the Above

Standard 4: Orientation & Training

• The program provides each mentor, mentee, and parent/guardian of mentee orientation with training and support materials.

• Trained staff or volunteers conduct these sessions, which are held prior to the match.

Program Orientation

• Program overview• Program description• Eligibility and time commitment• Program benefits and rewards.

A Mentee Orientation Plan

1. Introduce mentees and their parents/guardians to the concept of mentoring What mentoring is and its benefits The nature of the relationship

2. Age-appropriate program overview Identify program goals Roles and responsibilities Level of commitment expected

A Mentee Orientation Plan

1. Program policies and procedures Summary of program Collect paperwork Next steps – the process

2. Address concerns about mentoring Give mentees and their parents or

guardians the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns

A Mentor Orientation Plan

1. Overview of the mentoring program Program goals Need for mentors Mentee characteristics and criteria for

participation

2. Establish expectations Expectation of mentors What mentors can expect from

program staff Expectations of mentees Timeline

A Mentor Orientation Plan

1. Program policies and procedures Eligibility, screening, and matching

process Policies regarding confidentiality,

privacy, liability, outside meeting, etc. Administrative forms

2. Realistic view of mentoring and the young people your program serves Mentor expectations Characteristics of youth and

challenges they face

Questions?

Program Training1. Program policies2. Roles, responsibilities, and expectations3. Building a healthy mentoring relationship4. Information referral and support services 5. Age-appropriate activities 6. Cross-cultural and diversity awareness training7. Child abuse reporting and recognition8. Crisis management and problem-solving resources9. Establishing appropriate boundaries. 10.Confidentiality, risk and liability management11.Communication skills12.Explanation of site rules13.Match closure procedures

POLL

How much training do you provide mentors?

–6 hours or more

–4-5 hours

–2-3 hours

–1-2 hours

–None/not sure

Importance of an Orientation and Training Process

• Mentor mobilization practices– 80% of mentors report they were never

training in critical areas

• Pre-match training• Training should answer the WHY,

WHAT and HOW questions• Coordinator’s role

Continued Support

• Ongoing training sessions• Match Support

Now What?• Quality Program Standards Program Self-Assessment

Checklist

• Elements of Effective Practice Toolkit– www.mentoring.org– Sample orientation plans for mentors and mentees and mentor

training plan

• Bring this information back to YOUR mentoring program– What does your orientation and training plan consist of?– Are you following this plan consistently, with every participant in

your program?

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

Building a Successful Mentoring Program

• Definition and Recruitment Plan (recorded)

• Orientation and Training

• Matching Strategy and Monitoring Matches– March 7 at 2:00 pm – March 9 at 9:00 am

• Mentor Support, Recognition, & Retention and Match Closure– April 18 at 2:00 pm

– April 21 at 2:00 pm

Upcoming Opportunities

• Mentoring: A Promising Intervention for Children of Prisoners– March 8 at 10:00 am– March 17 at 2:00 pm

• Men in Mentoring Toolkit– March 22 at 3:00 pm

• Resources for New Mentoring Programs and New Staff– February 23 at 2:00 pm– April 15 at 10:00 am– June 13 at 2:00 pm

Questions or Comments?