Supporting Mentoring Relationships

Amy CannataNational Mentoring Center @

Education Northwesthttp://educationnorthwest.org/nmc

Topics for Today

First Meeting

• Facilitate the first meeting for success, left on their own, pairs may not meet

• Allow plenty of time for “getting to know you” activities

• Help make connections if needed

Getting a Good Start

Training

• Provide training before the match is made• Plan separate trainings for youth and

mentors• Invite experienced matches to speak • Add topics that will make your life easier

down the road

Getting a Good Start

How do you support your matches throughout the year?

Ongoing Support

The Mentor-MenteeRelationship Cycle

Beginningof theMatch

Challengingand

Testing

“Real”Mentoring

Ending

From: Ongoing Training for Mentors available at: http://www.edmentoring.org/pubs/ongoing_training.pdf

Ongoing Support

7

Monitoring & Support

Support

• Ongoing peer support structures for mentors and youth

• Ongoing training and development

• Relevant issue discussion and information dissemination

• Networking with appropriate organizations

• Recognition and appreciation

Ongoing Support

8

Monitoring: How Often?

Check in with mentors and youth:– Within the first 2

weeks – First few months

every 2 weeks– For the first year,

monthly– More often as needed

Ongoing Support

9

Troubleshooting

• What problems might arise in first few months of the match?

• What problems might arise after 6 months?

• How might we address these issues?

Ongoing Support

Planned Closure

• Be clear about the relationship length from the beginning

• Plan a formal closure event:– Celebrate achievements and reflect on time

together– Help youth thank their mentors– Share something they each learned from the

other– Outline expectations for future involvement

Closure

Unexpected Closure

• Life Events– State reasons, celebrate, don’t let the mentee think it

is their fault, outline expectations for future involvement, re-match if appropriate

• Termination due to behavior– State reasons, pair expresses what worked and didn’t

work, express how to handle situation differently next time around, re-match if appropriate

Closure

Thank you!

Visit our website:www.educationnorthwest.org/nmc

• Download program management resources

• Share your practices and learn from others on the