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Form a team. Gather a few key players who are committed to kids
and understand the value of mentoring. Committment is the key here, not
the number of team members. You will expand the team as the program
grows. At this stage, you need a few good, dedicated players who can be
counted on to get the job done.
Name your team. We call these start-up teams ‘Mentor Design Teams.’ Feel
free …
Get some training. You can start a mentoring
program without training by following the steps outlined below, but
investment in a day or two of training will make your efforts much more
efficient. And fun. Time together at the training site where your Design
Team can start working on the seven step process outlined below
strengthens your team (which, in turn, strengthens your program). We
recommend training.
We also recommend using this seven step process developed by CT's Mentor
Consulting Group:
Step
1: Conduct an assessment. Determine the need for the mentoring program. Create
awareness among the key community players. Identify those organizations
already engaged in mentoring.
Step
2: Recruit and screen mentors. Recruit mentors from throughout the community, using
businesses; churches; municipal agencies; social, civic, and fraternal
organizations. Recruit caring indivduals from the community at-large.
Market mentoring throughout the community. Recruit from every available
community resource.
Screen
your recruits. Develop procedures that include a written application
(special interests, time preferences, preferred age or grade levels of
youth, etc.) and a screening process that examines job performance,
personal references, criminal background, character and reliability.
Interview candidates. Screen your recruits with diligence.
Step
3: Train and orient mentors. Conduct a comprehensive training
session for new mentors. Cover program policies and procedures, liability
and confidentiality issues. Discuss the role of the family in the
program. Present youth-relevant topics, information about self-esteem and
how to resolve conflicts. Present what-works tips, strategies and
activities for their weekly sessions. Encourage questions and discussion.
Use mentors as their own resources.
Schedule an on-site orientation regarding scheduling procedures, check-in
requirements, etc. Introduce mentors to other adults who are involved in
the mentor program. For example, if mentoring takes place at school,
introduce mentors to the principal, teachers and support staff; discuss
life at school; where mentor sessions are held; how mentors will be
escorted; where the sign-in log is kept; where to find the visitor
badges. Answer questions, make mentors feel at home.
Step
4: Match mentors and youth. Obtain parental permission. Determine
the criteria by which children and youth will be selected for the
program. Assess their interests, hobbies, activities, etc. Often, matches
between mentors and mentees are based on interests commonly shared;
however, this is only one method of pairing adult and youth. Healthy
relationships can occur although mentor and mentee have diverse
interests.
Step
5: Engage in weekly mentoring sessions. Typically, mentors and
mentees meet weekly for an hour. The meeting location should provide a
measure of privacy, but be easily monitored by other professionals. Adult
and youth meet only at the approved site (school, church, synagogue,
community center, etc.). Doors to the meeting room remain open.
Mentoring activities for younger kids include reading together, playing
board games, practicing musical instruments, and talking. Mentors help
older kids by discussing career plans, school-to-work transition, how to
interview for college or job and just visiting and talking. Click here
for information about My Mentor and Me, activity guides for
mentors and mentees available through CMP.
Step
6. Evaluate your program. Monitor personal growth of youth via
attendance records, academic improvement, work habits. Use pre- and post-
self assessment inventories. Collect anecdotal information. Ask staff,
mentors, and parents to evaluate your program and its impact.
Step 7. Celebrate, acknowledge, and recognize. Honor mentors and
others at an appreciation ceremony. Thank them for their efforts during
the year. Discuss plans for next year and offer mentors the opportunity
to commit for another year
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