VISION

Looking For Mentors

ENGAGE YOURSELF!

What a mentor is and isn't.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

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What it is... Mentor Is…

What it isn't...ot…

A Friend, Companion, Listener
You are first and foremost a person that cares enough about your mentee to listen and be there
A Relentless Commitment
You are there for your student-match regardless of how he or she may occur to you
A Coach, Guide, Advisor
You listen for what your student-match is committed to and help them to see how their behavior is helping them or not helping them get what they want
A Cheerleader
You consistently encourage and remind your student-match of his or her positive attributes
An Advocate and a Resource
You assist your student-match to access resources that might otherwise be unavailable to him or her
A Mandatory Reporter
If you have reason to believe or are told by your student that your student

(1) is being harmed by another person, or
(2) is at risk of harming himself or herself; or
(3) is threatening to harm someone else,

you are required to report the situation to your Program Supervisors

A limit setter and a positive role model
By setting boundaries and maintaining them, you are will be setting an example for good relationships You set the example through self-awareness and acting as a positive role model at all times

· A parent substitute
You are not expected to fill the place of your mentee’s parents

· A recreation director
You are not there to be your mentee’s personal events planner and you are not expected to arrange a special event for every interaction

· A Santa Claus without a suit, a credit card or free ticket
You are not expected to buy your mentee everything she wants You are not even expected to buy her anything at all She should not ask you for money and you should not give it Mentoring is about relationships: an investment of time and hearts

· A counselor or therapist
You are not expected to be an expert when it comes to dealing with emotional and psychological issues If you feel that your mentee may require help that you know you cannot give her, contact your Program Supervisors

· A babysitter
Parents and guardians should not rely on mentors for babysitting Mentors and Mentees should arrange to hang out together the much same way friends would

· A chauffer
You are not there to drive your mentee to and from wherever she needs to go

· A lawyer, judge, or jury
You are certainly not to act as a person of judgment in your mentee’s life There are appropriate ways to discuss improper behaviors, but blame and scolding have no place in a mentoring relationship

· A consultant for the mentee's family
You are not family therapist sent in to preach or consult on how they should do things better. If you suspect problems, speak with your supervisor about the best way to proceed.

Mentoring FAQ

1. How do mentoring programs work?
Most mentoring programs work like this:
Caring adults are interviewed and trained on things like relationship-building, resources, boundary-setting, etc. All mentoring programs do some sort of background check.
Children in the community and their parents sign them up for a mentor. The children are also interviewed and go through an orientation, so they know what to expect from their mentor. The matches are usually made based on interest, availability, etc. For more information on how mentoring programs work, check out: http://www.mentoring.org

2. What types of mentoring programs are available?

* School-based: Mentors go to a local school and spend time with mentees there.
* Community-based: Mentors meet with mentees "in the community," that is, they arrange to pick mentees up from their homes and go do something together.
* E-mentoring: Mentoring takes place through a website, usually long-distance
* Group Mentoring: This means that a few mentors are matched with a few students and do activities as a group, this is usually a site-based program, not community.
* Hybrid Programs: These are programs that use multiple means of mentoring. they may have a school-based component, e-mentoring component and a community based-component.

3. How do I get matched with a mentee?
Most mentoring programs involve some sort of interview for both the mentor and mentee and you are matched based on common interests.

4. Will mentoring take up all my time? What's the commitment like?
Many school-based mentoring programs only require 1-hour per week on-site. Many community-based programs require around 2-4 hours per month. Hybrid programs tend to require weekly contact, but not necessarily always face-to-face. Mentors are not expected to be parent-replacements, best friends, or babysitters. As a mentor, you are a caring adult that can give some positive and constructive attention to a young person.

5. How do I know which program is right for me?
The best way to find out is to ask. Most mentoring program staff will be happy to discuss all the possibilities and answer questions you may have. Each program is different, so it's important to look into programs that match:

* your values
* your time availability
* your mobility (some programs require that mentors have transportation)

For more information stop by the VISION office at:
346 Student Center or call 487-1313