Be A Mentor, Inc.

1
Be A Mentor, Inc.

• Orientation to Mentoring
• 1260 B Street, Suite 375
• Hayward, CA 94541
• [phone]

2
introductions
3
Training Guidelines

• Maintain Confidentiality
• Be here now-No cell phones
• Speak from the heart
• Listen from the heart
• Respect differences
• Refer back to training guide
• HAVE FUN!!!

4
Training Objectives

• To better understand the issues and environmental
  factors facing our youth today.
• To understand the role and COMMITMENT of the
  mentor.
• To understand and demonstrate practices of
  effective mentors

5
How Youth Enter Program

• Receive Orientation
• Complete Application
• Parents/Guardian Complete
• Questionnaire
• Authorization Form
• Youth is Interviewed

6
What is the Project Managers Job?

• Recruit/interview Mentee
• Interview Mentors
• Complete Paperwork
• Hold Match Meeting
• Monitor the quality of match

7
When you were a kid
why did you need
a mentor?
8
Why Youth Need Mentors

• Depression/ Suicide
• Nutrition Health
• Pressure At Home
• Goal Setting
• Part-time Work
• Failing Grades

• Peer Pressure
• Substance Abuse
• Sexuality
• Social Skills
• Child Abuse
• Family Violence
• Anger Management
• Absenteeism

Someone to Listen
9
From The Kids Eyes!

• Forget about what YOU think a young person needs.
  
• Why would a young person want to be friends with
  you?
• What does a mentee think a mentor is?

10
Youth Say a Mentor Is

• Easy to talk to
• Someone to look up to
• a friend
• One who shows us new things
• Not a parent
• One who does not judge us
• Understanding
• FUN!
• knowledgeable

• One who doesnt get mad
• A role model
• One who encourages us
• One who listens to us
• Open-minded
• Empathetic
• Trustworthy
• One who gives guidance
• One who respects us

11
Role of the Mentor

• Academic Help
• Goal Setting
• Career Exploration Assistance
• Emotional Support
• Exposure to new things

Broker
Role model
Friend
Attention and Concern
12
Practices of an Effective Mentor
Respects Youth Viewpoints
Allows Youth to Make Mistakes
Involves Youth in Decisions
Builds a friendship
An Effective Mentor
Is Committed
Confirms Appointments
Separate Goals
Keeps Relationships Alive
Focus on the positive
Has Fun
13
Pitfalls of Mentoring

• Imposes Values
• Sporadic Meetings
• Authority Figure/Transform Youth
• Demand Equal Participation
• Not Seeking Support of Project Manager

Watches too much Day time TV!
14
Stages in Relationship
Setting Goals
Friendship
Building Relationship
Testing
15
Guidelines for Difficult Situations

• Discuss the problem.
• Think beforehand about what you want to
  accomplish.
• Bring things up early in visit.
• Separate the behavior from the person.
• Stay serious but supportive.
• Discuss sensitive issues in a private place.
• Consider relating something personal.
• Reinforce something positive about your mentee.

16
Culture

• Our youth are extremely ethnically diverse.
• Cultures include customs and values.
• Culture is a set of mental rules for survival and
  success that a particular group of people has
  developed.

17
Culture

• Cultures are multifaceted
• Family structure, Spirituality, Language, Art,
  Parenting practices, Concept of growth, aging,
  death
• Goal of mentoring is to create inclusion.
• You feel valued and respected by me.
• I feel valued and respected by you.
• Gang activity, not about skin color, but about
  which neighborhood your from.

18
Conversation Starters/Practices

• Come to your mentoring time, prepared!
• Any type of game, book or activity you use,
  should start a conversation not kill it.
• Ask High Quality Questions
• Be Careful not to use yes and no Questions.

19
Login Hours and Activities

• www.beamentor.org
• Login
• Email address
• Password
• Activity Form
• Select a mentee
• Activity Date
• Time
• Comments

20
Mentor Commitment

• 4-6 hours each month
• Weekly telephone contact
• Document activities/hours
• Keeps contact with parents
• Attend quarterly wisdom circles
• Attend mentor events

Never gives up!
21
Confidentiality

• When can I break it?
• How do I break it?

CPS Hotline [phone]