Strategies for Effective Mentor Training

June 29, 2011

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MPM IS THE DRIVING FORCE IN THE MENTORING MOVEMENT IN MINNESOTA. WE BRING TOGETHER DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS AROUND TWO STRATEGIC GOALS:

• MPM will Increase Quality Mentoring in Minnesota

• MPM is the Leading Champion of Quality Mentoring Across Minnesota

Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota

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Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring, 3rd Edition

• 6 evidence-based standards for program operations

• Research-based benchmarks for daily program operations

• Based on feedback from experienced mentoring practitioners

• Includes recommended enhancements that programs can incorporate

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Standard 3: Training BenchmarksStandard: Train prospective mentors in the basic knowledge and skills needed to build an effective mentoring relationship.

Mentor Training Benchmarks:• Program provides a minimum

of two hours of pre-match, in-person training.

• Mentor training includes these topics, at a minimum

TOPICSa. Program rules

b. Mentors’ goals and expectations for the relationship

c. Mentors’ obligations and appropriate roles

d. Relationship development and maintenance

e. Ethical issues that may arise

f. Effective closure of the mentoring relationship

g. Sources of assistance available to support mentors.

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Standard 3: Training EnhancementsMentor Training:

• Program uses evidence-based training materials.• Program provides additional pre-match training opportunities

beyond the two-hour, in-person minimum.• Training addresses the following developmental topics:

a. Youth development process;

b. Cultural, gender and economic issues; and

c. Opportunities and challenges associated with mentoring specific populations of children (e.g., children of prisoners, youth involved in the juvenile justice system, youth in foster care, high school dropouts), if relevant.

• Program uses training to continue to screen mentors for suitability and develops techniques for early trouble-shooting should problems be identified.

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MPM Training Institute is Unique

Mentoring programs

contract with MPM for training

No cookie cutter training

Main ingredients similar but recipe mixed differently

each time

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Quality = Longer Stronger Matches

Quality Mentors• Support

organizational & program values

• Keep young people safe

• Understand youth development

• Model healthy life skills

• Are youth-centered

Quality Mentor Training

• Enforces values• Minimizes risk• Raises awareness,

teaches skills & shares knowledge necessary for successful mentoring relationship

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PYD: all young people have strengths

• MENTOR Research In Action; 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

Role of mentoring is not to FIX young people but rather to help them achieve their potential.

http://www.search-institute.org/mentoring

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External Assets

Support

Empowerment

Boundariesand

Expectations

ConstructiveUse of Time

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Internal Assets

Commitmentto Learning

Positive Values

Social Competencies

Positive Identity

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Maximize Your Impact emphasizes positive youth development

Build longer, stronger relationships1. Focus on what is strong not what is wrong

2. Pay attention to what mentees would like for themselves – not just what we think they need

3. Teach and model skills to help young people carry their baggage better

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Match items with similar functions

• Strong not wrong

• Youth-centered

• Help ‘em carry it better

• Build longer stronger relationships

Sustainable, reusable, investment, valuable, would go back for it, don’t throw it out, strong, sturdy, durable

Disposable, trash, cheap, lost & forgotten, thrown out, flimsy, lower quality, doesn’t last

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How many assets can you find?XXXX XXXXXXX - ####Minnesota Correctional Facility-Shakopee1010 West Sixth AvenueShakopee, MN 55379

Dear Mama,We are writing letters

in school today. My teacher says I am a good speller and that I have nice handwriting. Do you think so?

We had our Valentine Party on Friday. Gramma bought Valentines for me and we sat at the kitchen table and put them together. During the party with all the other 3rd graders, Jessica spilled juice on her Valentines and had to throw them all away. She was so sad. I gave her some of my candy.

I miss you Mama. At parent night, some boys asked me where my mom was and why my Gramma was with me. I told them you were in jail. They asked what you did to go to jail and I just told the truth and said I don’t know.

I wish you could come to my basketball games. I’m really fast and am getting better at shooting.

When can I come visit you again? I miss you. Write me back soon!

Love,Shayna

*This is a fictitious letter.

1. Strong not wrong

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Darren wants to get better grades But RIGHT NOW, he wants to play video games and beat the record he set the last time he was at your house. He told you earlier that he has a paper due the day after tomorrow. Which is a more youth centered response?

A.Play video games. B.Work on the paper. C.Something in betweenD.BothE.It depends

1. Strong not wrong

2. Youth-centered

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Mentors can’t carry it for them-

But mentors CAN teach and model skills to help young

people carry it BETTER.

B A

G G

A G

E

1. Strong not wrong

2. Youth-centered

3. Help ‘em carry it better

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How Do You Maximize Your Impact?While you’re together one afternoon, Michael tells you that he was invited to go with his friend’s family to the Twins game in Minneapolis next weekend. He is mad that he can’t go and tells you it is because his mom wants him to stay home and watch his little brother.

1. Strong not wrong

2. Youth-centered

3. Help ‘em carry it better

4. Build longer stronger

relationships

MAXIMIZE YOUR IMPACT

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Culturally Smart Relationships

• Raises awareness of one’s own cultures & the cultures of others

• Builds skills to help improve communication & deepen the connection

• Increases knowledge about cultural differences & similarities

Mentors leave baggage at the door

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Think of a game you like to play

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The hand you were dealt…

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Knowledge - True or False?• There are too many cultures! I can’t

possibly learn what I need to know about all of them.

• I have already examined my preconceptions, changed some of my thoughts and feel culturally smart. I’m done.

• My own diversity taught me to be culturally smart. I don’t need special training.

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A lost child tells of a dream…

In the dream, he is stuck in a pitch-dark room, helpless and confused, awkwardly feeling his way around. His mentor is there too in the dream, and knows just where the light switch is. But instead of turning it on, the mentor waits, then aims the beam of a flashlight at the switch.

It’s the job of the child to do the rest.

Liu, Eric; Guiding Lights: The People Who Lead Us Toward Our Purpose in Life, Random House, New York, 2004.