MENTORINGYOUTHFACINGBARRIERSTOSUCCESS

OntarioMentoringCoalitionApril14,2016

Presentedby:Dr.MelanieBaniaWithfunding providedby:OntarioMinistryofChildren andYouthServices (MCYS)

EffectiveRecruiting&TrainingTechniques

Welcome&Introductions

• WelcomebytheOntarioMentoringCoalition(Co-ChairsBethMalcolm&CathyDenyer)

• Housekeeping:Howtousetheplatform

• WebinarObjectives

• WebinarOutline

WebinarObjectives

①Highlighttheimportantrolerecruitingandtrainingplayineffectivementoringprograms

② Reviewevidence-basedstandardsandbenchmarksforrecruitingandtrainingparticipants

③ Shareinformationonbestpracticesforrecruitingandtrainingparticipantswhenmentoringyouthwhofacebarrierstosuccess

WebinarOutline

Topic Time

Definitions:Whatdowemeanby“mentoring foryouthwhofacebarriers tosuccess”?

1:10– 1:15

Theeffectiveness ofmentoring for youthwhofacebarriers tosuccess

1:15– 1:30

Effectivelyrecruiting andtrainingmentees 1:30– 1:45

Effectivelyrecruiting andtrainingmentors 1:45– 2:10

Questions &Discussion 2:10– 2:30

Whatdowemeanby“mentoringforyouth

whofacebarrierstosuccess”?

DefinitionofMentoring

• Theterm‘mentor’canbebroadlydefinedas:“anexperiencedandtrustedadvisor”(OxfordDictionaries,n.d.)

• “Mentoringtakesplacebetweenyoungpersons(i.e.,mentees)andolderormoreexperiencedpersons(i.e.,mentors)whoareactinginanon-professional helpingcapacitytoproviderelationship-basedsupport thatbenefitsoneormoreareasofthementee’sdevelopment” (MENTOR,2015,p.9)

TypesofMentoring

FormalMentoring

• Occursinaformalizedmentoringprogramwherementeesareintentionallymatchedtomentors

²variousmodels:1-1,group,team,peer,online

²varioussettings:community,school,faith-based,agency,workplace

InformalMentoring

• Occursoutsideofaformalizedmentoringprogram²Casual/Naturalmentors(ex:schoolbusdriver,communityleader)

²Contentmentors(ex:guestspeaker,jobshadowing)

²Programmentors(ex:homeworkcluborsummercamp)

DefinitionofYouthFacingBarrierstoSuccess

• Youthwhoexperienceobstaclestofullparticipationintheircommunitiesandmaybenefitfromtargetedsupportandopportunities (OntarioMinistryofChildren&YouthServices).

• Youthwithacademicchallenges• Indigenous youth• Racializedyouth• Newcomeryouth• Youthwithdevelopmental/otherdisabilities• Youthwithmentalhealthneeds• LGBTTQQIP2SA youth• Youthinorleavingcare• Homelessyouth• Youthinvolvedwiththecriminaljusticesystem• Girls

Researchtellus…

• Foryoungpeopleingeneral,formalmentoringcanhavepositiveeffectsformentees(small-modestpositiveoutcomes)• re:academic,emotional,behavioural andsocialdevelopment

• Impactsarecomparabletoothersimilarformalinterventionstrategiesandprogramsforyouth(canbepowerful,butnotasilverbullet)

• Evidenceislesscommon,conclusiveordefinitivefortheoveralleffectivenessofmentoringforyouthdeemedathigher-riskofnegativelifeoutcomes

Researchtellus…

• Mentoringcanbenefityouthwithvarious‘riskprofiles’(theycanhavementoringrelationships thataresimilar instrength, duration,andbenefits)

• Mentoringmaybemosteffectiveforyouthfacingbarrierstosuccesswhenitiscombinedwithotherservicesandsupports(tailored,holisticapproach)

EffectivenessofMentoring:Gaps

• Youthwithmentalhealthneeds

• Indigenousyouth

• LGBTTQQIP2SA

• Homelessyouth

• Etc.

Howcanwemakeourmentoringprogramthemosteffectiveandsafe

aspossible?

Universal factorsthatfostergreaterimpactsinmentoringrelationships

• Closeness

• Consistency

• Youth-centredness

• Structure

• Duration(atleast1year)

Recruitingthe‘right’participantsandtrainingthemproperlyhavebeenshowntodirectlyincreasethesefactors

• Evidenceisverystrongforrecruitingmentorsthatareagoodfitandforprovidingthemwithadequatetraining

• Evidenceisgrowingforrecruitingmenteesthatareagoodfitandforprovidingthemwithadequatetraining

MentoringStandards&BestPractices

Evidence-basedandpractitioner-informedstandardsandbestpracticesforplanningandimplementinganeffectivementoringprogram

ElementsofEffectivePracticeforMentoringTM

http://www.mentoring.org/program-resources/elements-of-effective-practice-for-mentoring/

Recruiting&trainingmenteeswhofacebarrierstosuccess

RecruitingMenteesStandard• Recruit appropriatementees byrealistically describing theprogram’s aimsandexpected outcomes.

Benchmarks• Userecruitment strategies that realistically portraythebenefits, practices,supports, andchallenges ofbeingmentored

• Recruitmenteeswhoseneedsbestmatch theservices offered• Establish criteria foraccepting ordisqualifying youth intheprogram• Getpotentialmentees tocomplete anapplication (written orverbal)• Ensurementees (andparent(s)/guardian(s) whereapplicable) agree inwritingtotheminimum time/duration commitment required

• Ensurementees (andparent(s)/guardian(s) whereapplicable) agree inwritingthatmentees participate inface-to-face meetingswiththeirmentorsataminimum frequencyandamount ofhours required

RecruitingMentees

• Youthmustbemotivatedtoparticipate

• Mustbeagoodfitforamentoringrelationshipatthetimeofrecruitment(basedonindividualandlifecircumstances)

• Self-selectionbyyoungpeopleislikelytoproducebetteroutcomesthanyoungpeoplebeinginvitedtoparticipateorbeingreferredbyothers

• Mostimportantly,theselectionprocessshouldbeseenasapositiveopportunity,notaspunishment,stigmatizingorlabeling

TrainingMenteesStandard• Trainprospectivementeesinthebasicknowledge, attitudes,andskillsneededtobuildaneffectiveandsafementoringrelationshipusingculturallyappropriatelanguage andtools.

Benchmarks

**Thereislessrigorousresearchontheimpactofmenteetrainingandnobenchmarks

• trainingmenteestopreparethemfortheirfirstmeetingwiththeirmentorcanalleviateanxietyandhelptherelationshipsbeinitiatedinapositive,memorableway

• Understanding thepotentialbenefitsofbeingmentoredandsettinggoalsfortherelationshipcanhelpbuildmotivationinmenteesandempoweryoungpeopletobeactivecontributorstobuildingtheirmentoringrelationship

TrainingMentees• Theprogramshouldprovidetrainingtailoredtomenteesage,gender,ethnicityonthefollowingtopics:

• Purposeofmentoringandhowthementorcanhelpthem• Programrequirements(e.g.,matchlength,matchfrequency,durationofvisits,protocolsformissingorbeinglatetomeetings,matchtermination)

• Mentor’sobligationsandappropriateroles(toavoidunrealisticexpectations)

• Mentee’sobligationsandappropriateroles• Initiatingthementoringrelationship• Effectiveclosureofthementoringrelationship

TrainingMentees• Ethicsandsafetyinmentoringrelationships:

• Appropriatephysicalcontact• Approved activities• Confidentiality andanonymity• Digitalandsocialmediause• Overnightvisitsandoutoftowntravel• Moneyspentonmenteeandmentoringactivities• Transportation• Emergencyandcrisissituationprocedures• Substanceuse• Inclusionofothersinmatchmeetings(e.g.,siblings,mentee’sfriends)• Photoandimageuse• Grievanceprocedures• Etc.

http://ontariomentoringcoalition.ca/mentoringyouthfacingbarriers/effective-mentoring-program-components-implementation/training-mentees/

TrainingMentees

Recruiting&trainingmentorsforyouthwhofacebarrierstosuccess

RecruitingMentorsStandard• Recruitappropriatementorsbyrealisticallydescribingtheprogram’saimsandexpectedoutcomes

Benchmarks

• Realisticallyportraythebenefits,practices,supports,andchallengesofmentoringintheprogram

• Recruitmentorswhoseskills,motivations,andbackgroundsbestmatchthegoalsandstructureoftheprogram

• Encouragementorstoassistwithrecruitmentefforts• Encourageandtrainmenteestoidentifyandrecruitappropriatementorsforthemselves,whenpossible/relevant

RecruitingMentors• Createarecruitmentplantohelpguideandtrackhowyouwillpromotetheprogramtopotentialvolunteermentors

• Usemultiplestrategiestorecruitmentors(e.g.,directask,socialmedia,traditionalmethodsofmasscommunication,presentations,referrals,wordofmouth)onanongoingbasis

• Word-of-mouthrecruitmenthasbeenfoundtobeveryeffectiveforsomeprograms;volunteerismincreaseswhenpeopleareaskedtovolunteerbysomeonetheyknow(ex:friend,colleague,relative)

• Communicatetomentorshowmentoringandvolunteeringcanbenefitthem(notjustthementee)

RecruitingMentors

http://ontariomentoringcoalition.ca/mentoringyouthfacingbarriers/effective-mentoring-program-components-implementation/recruiting-mentors/

• Creativerecruitment strategies Webinar• Mentorself-assessment checklist• Meninmentoring toolkit• Mentorrecruitment postcardtemplate• Mentorrecruitment marketing tips• Etc.

MentorRecruitment

http://www.mentoring.org/new-site/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/JULY_2015_TVR_Tips.pdf

TrainingMentorsStandard• Trainprospectivementorsinthebasicknowledge,attitudes,andskillsneededtobuildaneffectiveandsafementoringrelationshipusingculturallyappropriatelanguageandtools

Benchmarks• Absoluteminimum=twohoursofpre-match,in-persontraining• Giveampleopportunitytopracticeandapplyskillsusingexamplesthatmayoccurinmentoringsituations

• Usevisual,auditory,writing,andhands-onmethods• Additionalhoursofpre-matchtrainingresultinbetteroutcomes

• Supplementwithpost-matchtrainingasmuchaspossible

TrainingMentors• Pre-matchtrainingformentorsshouldcover:

• Programrequirements• Mentors’obligationsandappropriateroles

• Relationshipinitiation,developmentandmaintenance

http://www.issuelab.org/click/download1/deep_mentoring_training_guide

AddressingPowerDynamics• Youthfacingbarrierstosuccessmayfeelespeciallydisempoweredgiventheirpastlifeexperiences

• Ratherthanglossoverorignoreissuesofpowerandprivilege,itisimportantforserviceproviders,mentors,andyouththemselvestoacknowledgetherolethatpowerplaysintheirlivesandthedevelopmentoftheirrelationships

• Mentorsshouldbetrainedinbeingsensitivetopowerdifferentialsthatareinherentinadult-youthrelationships,andtheskillsneededforcollaborativedecision-making,positivecommunication,andresolvingconflictwithmentees(i.e.,havingconflictinggoals,interests,andpreferences)

• CrossingtheLineActivity:http://ontariomentoringcoalition.ca/mentoringyouthfacingbarriers/key-resources-webinars/

CulturalCompetency• Culturalcompetency

• Howculture, gender,race,religion, socioeconomicstatus, andotherdemographic characteristicsmayaffect thementoringrelationship

• Maycontribute tomorepositiveoutcomes incross-cultural mentoringmatches

• Prioritize empathy, respect,curiosity

http://www.mentoring.org/new-site/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Diversity-Discussion-Starters.pdf

ProvidingTrauma-InformedServices• Youthwhofacemultiplebarrierstosuccessaremorelikelytohaveexperiencedtrauma

• Itisimportantforprogramstaffandmentorstoworkfromatrauma-informedframework,sotheycanbestservethementees

• RefertoTrauma-InformedPracticesGuide:http://bccewh.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2013_TIP-Guide.pdf

TrainingMentors• Ethicsandsafetyinmentoringrelationships:

• Disclosuresandconfidentiality• Appropriatephysicalcontact• Approved activities• Confidentiality andanonymity• Digitalandsocialmediause• Overnightvisitsandoutoftowntravel• Moneyspentonmenteeandmentoringactivities• Transportation• Emergencyandcrisissituationprocedures• Substanceuse• Inclusionofothersinmatchmeetings(e.g.,siblings,mentee’sfriends)• Photoandimageuse• Grievanceprocedures• Etc.

TrainingMentors

http://ontariomentoringcoalition.ca/mentoringyouthfacingbarriers/effective-mentoring-program-components-implementation/training-mentors/

TrainingMentors

http://www.issuelab.org/click/download1/deep_mentoring_training_guide

Resources

• AdetailedlistofReferencesandResourcescanbefoundintheonlineToolkitat:

www.ontariomentoringcoalition.ca

Questions&Discussion

ContactInformation• OntarioMentoringCoalition

• BethMalcolm,CanadianWomen’sFoundationbmalcolm@canadianwomen.org

• CathyDenyer,fFormerlyofBigBrothersBigSistersTorontocdenyer5@gmail.com

• ResourceDevelopers/WebinarFacilitator

• Dr.MelanieBaniamel@melaniebania.ca

withfundingprovidedby:• VanessaChase,MCAvanessalschase@gmail.com