Online mentor training available

I recently learned about a new online training program that is available to our mentors at no cost.  Produced by a company called Education Northwest, this program uses video stories with real mentors, real youth and real situations to illustrate common challenges faced by today’s mentors.  The videos also help provide mentors with proven strategies they can use in their interactions and relationship-building with their mentees.

This program is called “Talking it Through: Communication Skills for Mentors.”  While this is a free resource, it is all done online and requires a high-speed internet connection.  All you have to do to start benefitting from this free online training program is to complete the free online registration process.  Simply go online to http://talkingitthrough.educationnorthwest.org and click on the button marked “Log in to get started!”  Once you have registered for the program you can start watching the videos and responding to the questions provided.  I have done several of the video lessons, and I have found them to be very interesting and interactive.  You will be asked to answer questions or give your thoughts about what is going on in the video in order to watch each subsequent part of the lesson.

Through these lessons, mentors will learn how to handle difficult situations and challenges through consistent recommended approaches, empathize with mentees by noticing verbal and nonverbal cues, and help youth identify their options and provide recommendations without judgment or coercion.  In addition, these lessons will help mentors to learn how to redirect mentee requests that are outside the boundaries of the mentor/mentee relationship and know when to refer them to program staff and/or adhere to mandatory reporting requirements.

I will caution you that some of the policies that are addressed in the lessons do not match up with the policies for our program.  For example, the mentoring program used as an example in one of the lessons states that mentors are not allowed to give their personal cell phone numbers to their mentee.  Community Connections Mentoring does not have this type of restriction.  However, this lesson will still help you to figure out how to set appropriate boundaries with your mentee.

“Talking it Through” includes 13 video stories that are 3-7 minutes in length.  The website also includes tips and resources, learning checks and a printable journal so you can take notes on what you have learned.   I strongly urge all of our mentors to complete this free online training program.  If you don’t have a computer or your internet speed in not fast enough to watch the streaming videos, please contact me and we’ll see what we can do for you.

Survey shows the impact of mentoring

Last month, we talked about how spending just a little bit of time with a young person can make a big difference when the time spent is one-on-one, intentional and focused.  Of course, this is no surprise for those of you who have been involved in mentoring for any length of time.

So exactly what benefit do children receive from this one-on-one time with an adult mentor?  Well, a national study conducted by the National Mentoring Partnership found that youth who meet regularly with a mentor are 46 percent less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27 percent less likely to start drinking.  In addition, students who meet regularly with a mentor are 52 percent less likely to skip a day of school and 37 percent less likely to skip a class.

We recently surveyed the kids in our program about the benefits they have experienced.  Eighty-three percent of the kids who responded said that because of their mentoring relationship they have higher expectations of themselves, they have more interests and hobbies and they feel more confident in themselves.  In addition, 83 percent said they now feel it’s important to help others as a result of their mentoring relationship, and they feel there are people who will help them out if they need it.

Three quarters of the kids reported having a better attitude towards school, being more honest and having a more positive view of the future as a result of mentoring.  Seventy-five percent also reported that they feel like there are adults who care about them.  And finally, 92 percent said they feel happy when they are with their mentor, and 83 percent of respondents said their mentor makes them feel special.

 Aside from the statistics, many of the children commented on the things they’ve learned through mentoring and how it has changed how they feel about themselves.  Here are just a few of their comments:

·    I’ve learned you can do good things before bad things.

·    I’ve learned how to be more responsible.

·    I feel like I can trust more people.

·    I encourage myself.

I hope this information is encouraging to those of you who are currently serving as a mentor in our program.  The work you do is truly making a difference in the lives of the children in North Platte.  Here is just a sample of what our mentors had to say about their experience:

·    I have gained a richer outlook on life. She has enhanced my life so much!

·    I have found that kids are wonderful, and although their lives are much different than when I was that age, there are still many things that are the same.  It is wonderful seeing them find their way; I am anxious to see them grow and succeed.

·    I have had a wonderful time and found a beautiful little girl that makes me feel as if I also matter to someone.

I will close with my favorite quote from our survey.  This comment came from one of the kids in our program.  While the survey is anonymous, I hope that this child’s mentor will recognize who the message is from and know how much she is truly appreciated by her mentee:

“My mentor is nice, awesome and sweet.  She takes me to McDonalds.  I love going to McDonalds.”