Introduction to the Information Services and Resources of the Mentoring Resource Center

1
Introduction to the Information Services and
Resources of the Mentoring Resource Center

• Web Seminar presented
• Dec. 17th, 2007
• Michael Garringer Patti MacRae
• Advisors, Mentoring Resource Center

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About the Mentoring Resource Center

• Dedicated training and technical assistance
  provider for the U.S. Department of Educations
  mentoring grantees
• Partnership between EMT Associates and the
  National Mentoring Center
• We provide group training, on-site support,
  one-on-one program coaching, and a wealth of
  resources

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What we will cover today

• The many publications and toolkits available to
  you on the MRC Web site
• Useful resources developed by other organizations
• The information services of the MRC
• Any questions you may have about stuff

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MRC Resources

• All publications are available in easy to access
  formats (PDF, Word doc, PowerPoint)
• Let us know about any download or access issues
• These are public domain resources (draft letter)

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Major Publications

• Making the Grade A Guide to Incorporating
  Academic Achievement Into Mentoring Programs and
  Relationships
• General guidebook for developing a school-based
  mentoring program
• Covers program design and mentoring relationship
  development in an academic context
• Great activity ideas, handouts, listings of
  resources

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Major Publications

• Guide to Screening and Background Checks
• Developed in partnership with the Nonprofit Risk
  Management Center
• Covers a comprehensive screening process
• Special attention paid to identifying screening
  criteria and interpreting the results of
  background checks

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Major Publications

• Going the Distance A Guide to Building Lasting
  Relationships in Mentoring Programs
• Long-lasting matches are the key to program
  success
• Tips for every stage of the journey (from intake
  to closure)
• Heavy emphasis on match supervision and ongoing
  support and training

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Major Publications

• Preparing Participants for Mentoring Guide to
  Initial Training of Volunteers, Youth, and
  Parents
• Quality training builds better mentoring
  relationships
• Basics of being a good trainer and building
  appropriate agendas
• Many ready-to-use training activities and
  handouts (effective communication, setting goals
  with youth, handling turbulence)

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Major Publications

• Ongoing Training for Mentors 12 Interactive
  Sessions for U.S. Department of Education
  Mentoring Programs
• Designed to meet issues that come up as
  relationships progress (increasing longevity and
  outcomes)
• 12 ready-to-use activities (with handouts and
  facilitator notes)
• Topics include
• setting boundaries
• talking about adolescent health issues
• working with the mentees family
• dealing with crisis situations
• and more!

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Major Publications

• Effective Mentor Recruitment Getting Organized,
  Getting Results
• Planning tool to help get organized for all
  aspects of recruitment
• Guiding principles of effective recruitment
  (mostly building on your strengths!)
• Tools and worksheets for targeting mentors,
  identifying recruitment locations, and developing
  appealing messages

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Major Publications

• Building a Sustainable Mentoring Program A
  Framework for Resource Development Planning
• Grantees need to start early on sustainability
• Guide offers practical advice and planning tools
  worksheets
• Examines common revenue streams and use of your
  Board/Advisory Committee

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Major Publications

• Guide to Mentoring for Parents and Guardians
• Mentoring can cause concern or be misunderstood
  by parents
• This template (Word doc) helps you explain your
  mission, services, and approach to mentoring
• Emphasis on safety, communication, and the
  parents role

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Major Publications

• Marketing Toolkit for Office of Safe and
  Drug-Free Schools Mentoring Programs
• Combines advice and ideas with actual
  customizable files
• Quark Express and Word versions of all print
  materials
• Also includes PowerPoint presentations, PSA
  texts, FAQ sheets, even the Dept. of ED seal!

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Web Seminars

• Teleconference seminars similar to this one
• Provide remote access to researchers and program
  expertise
• Archived versions available in the Grantee
  Resources section of the Web site
• Archived versions feature downloadable
  publications, supplemental reading, and audio
  files (mp3 format)

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Web Seminars

• 1 - Micro-Sustainability
• Presented by Miki Hodge (rural program
  coordinator)
• Examined grassroots fundraising, local events,
  building partnerships
• Print product features additional reading and
  fundraising tips

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Web Seminars

• 2 - Using Mentoring Research Findings to Build
  Effective Programs
• Presentation 1 Relationships in School-Based
  Mentoring Programs (Dr. Tom Keller, Portland
  State University)
• Presentation 2 The Importance of Match
  Activities on Mentoring Relationships (Dr.
  Michael Karcher, Univ. of Texas San Antonio)
• Both explore the subtle aspects of communication
  and interaction that make mentoring relationships
  thrive or struggle

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Web Seminars

• 3 - The BBBS School-Based Mentoring Impact
  Study Findings and Implications for Policy and
  Practice
• Presented by Dr. Carla Herrera, P/PV
• Methodology and results from new BBBSA research
• Discussion of how programs can translate findings
  into positive changes in service delivery

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Web Seminars

• 4 - Building Youth Literacy in Mentoring
  Programs  
• Presented by Rändi Douglas of the LEARNS project
• Comprehensive literacy strategy and tips for both
  programs and mentors
• Designed to be used as a training session at the
  program level (PowerPoint available for download)

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Case Studies

• Built around successful strategies and lessons
  learned from real programs
• Solutions are adaptable for diverse programs
• Critical topics include program sustainability,
  mentor recruitment, and program evaluation

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Fact Sheets

• Turn research into ideas for improving your
  program
• Brief publications, can also be used as handouts
• Prominent topics include youth development,
  strategies for supporting matches, and various
  elements of program design

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Coming Soon Publication Catalog!

• Searchable by keyword and type of resource
• Help you identify the sub-topics you are
  specifically interested in
• Demonstrated at the Regional Trainings in January
  and March

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Online Resources

• Links to downloadable publications by other
  organizations
• Arranged by topic, frequently updated
• Let us know if there is something youd like to
  see added

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Online Resources

• Titles of note include
• Evaluating Your Program A Beginner's
  Self-evaluation Workbook for Mentoring Programs
• very comprehensive tool for pre-post
• great listing of validated instruments in the
  appendix
• Tools for Mentoring Adolescents
• Developed by the Mentoring Partnership of
  Minnesota
• Topics include setting boundaries, building
  trust, communication, developmental stages, etc.

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Other Resources

• Training materials from EMT
• Designing An Effective Training Program For Your
  Mentors
• Responsible Mentoring Talking About Drugs, Sex
  and Other Difficult Issues
• Preparing Mentees for Success A Program
  Manager's Guide
• Generic Mentoring Program Policy and Procedure
  Manual (and other National Mentoring Center
  Resources)

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Lending Library

• 430 mentoring-specific titles you can borrow (30
  days)
• Collection can be searched by keyword, title,
  author on MRC Web site
• Grantees use the username grantee and password
  success to check out items
• You can always call for assistance in finding
  materials

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Reference Services

• MRC Staff has access to a wealth of education,
  youth development, and nonprofit management
  literature
• Staff trained in finding and synthesizing
  research
• Grantees can contact Patti or myself for
  assistance identifying resources or literature to
  help improve their program 503-275-0135

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EDMentoring Forum

• Dedicated listserv for OSDFS mentoring grantees
• Great way to network and ask questions
  (especially of previous grantees)
• Send messages to edmentoring_at_lyris.nwrel.org
• Be sure to follow the Forum rules for posting
  (and be careful about reply)

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Whats on Tap for 2008

• 3 more Web Seminars
• 6 more Fact Sheets and 4 Case Studies
• Regional Training events
• Trainings By Request (perhaps online using new
  technology)
• Be sure to tell us what you need to succeed!

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Questions?

• About
• resources weve covered
• resources we DIDNT cover
• suggestions for future publications or tools

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Contact

• ED Mentoring Website http//www.edmentoring.org
• Michael Garringer
• garringm_at_nwrel.org 503-275-9647
• Patti MacRae
• macraep_at_nwrel.org 503-275-0138