How to Enhance a Mentoring

Program

Ann Y. KimMBC Final Project

PresentationMay 16, 2007

Please welcome…

Betty Osowski

Situation: An unfulfilling and negative mentoring experience

Solution: Research how to enhance the program to ensure a fulfilling and positive experience

Background onKorean Adoptees

15,000+ Korean adoptees in Minnesota

Children’s Home Society & Family Services (aka Children’s Home) • pivotal in placing 8,000+ Korean adoptees for the past 30 years

Background on theMentor & Mentee Program

Founded in 1997 (aka M&M Program)

Mission: “To create friendships between younger and older internationally adopted persons, in a meaningful, positive atmosphere”.

Partnered with Children’s Home agency in 1999

Research Question

“Can an assessment of the mentor and mentee experience help shape and enhance the Mentor & Mentee Program?“

Who I Asked & What I Asked

Population• 102 mentors• 68 mentees

Mail survey• Two separate surveys• 20 similar questions for mentor & mentee

• 7 additional training questions for mentors

Who Responded

49 returned surveys• 32 mentors• 17 mentees

Response rate• 31% mentors• 25% mentees

Rating the mentoring relationship within the first 3 months of the match vs. the end of the match

How helpful was theTraining Manual?

67% helpful or very helpful 23% slightly helpful or not helpful

Had referred back to the Training Manual?

17%

Rating the Mentee Experience

Since being in the M&M Program…•33% felt no increase in confidence•33% saw no improvement in self-esteem•21% did not feel more positive about their Korean identity•36% saw no increase in (Korean) cultural awareness

Helpfulness of the Large Group Activities

3%8%

41%

23%28%

46%

28%23%

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Per

cen

tag

e o

f

resp

on

den

ts

Veryhelpful

Helpful Unsure Nothelpful

Rate of helpfulness

MentorMentee

Research Question

“Can an assessment of the mentor and mentee experience help shape and enhance the Mentor & Mentee Program?“

YES

How to Enhance the M&M Program

Improve the mentors’ training• Conduct on-going mentor training and incorporate new training materials

Improve the mentees’ experience• Intentional goal-setting• Mentee training

Improve large group activities• Request that M&M participants volunteer• Ask for immediate feedback

Overall Assessment

Had recommended the M&M Program• 63% mentors• 50% mentees

Overall experience rated as excellent or good• 87% mentors• 88% mentees

“I think that anyone can benefit from a mentoring relationship and having a program focused on the (international) adoption experience and journey is so valuable.“

– Anonymous Mentor

Mentor Quote

Questions?