Designing a Mentoring Designing a Mentoring Program for Neglected Program for Neglected YouthYouthLaura Schleede, Journey 4-H Youth Laura Schleede, Journey 4-H Youth MentoringMentoring

Molly Frendo, Michigan 4-H Youth Molly Frendo, Michigan 4-H Youth DevelopmentDevelopment

Jamie, Journey 4-H MenteeJamie, Journey 4-H Mentee

Jamie’s StoryJamie’s Story

Journey 4-H Youth Journey 4-H Youth MentoringMentoring

• Partnership with Ottawa Partnership with Ottawa County Family Court, Juvenile County Family Court, Juvenile ServicesServices

• Matches court involved youth Matches court involved youth with screened volunteerswith screened volunteers

• Volunteers complete 12 hours Volunteers complete 12 hours of pre-match training of pre-match training

• Matches commit to meet for at Matches commit to meet for at least two hours a week for a least two hours a week for a minimum of eighteen months minimum of eighteen months

• Mission is to reduce frequency Mission is to reduce frequency and severity of delinquent and severity of delinquent behavior by matching court behavior by matching court involved youth with a caring involved youth with a caring adult friend and role modeladult friend and role model

Changing LivesChanging Lives• Mentors provide support to youth and Mentors provide support to youth and

familiesfamilies• Mentors teach skillsMentors teach skills• Mentors and program staff provide:Mentors and program staff provide:

– Youth with supervision during critical after-Youth with supervision during critical after-school hoursschool hours

– Referrals for needed servicesReferrals for needed services– A respite for parentsA respite for parents

• Mentors help youth learn how to Mentors help youth learn how to communicate better within the family, at communicate better within the family, at school and sociallyschool and socially

• Exposure to community service Exposure to community service

Mentor Recruitment Mentor Recruitment

• Targeted recruitment of stable Targeted recruitment of stable adultsadults

• Emphasis on long term commitmentEmphasis on long term commitment• Consider people with history in Consider people with history in

helping professionshelping professions• Communicate need for flexibilityCommunicate need for flexibility

Mentor ScreeningMentor Screening

• Be selectiveBe selective• Mentors need to be flexible and Mentors need to be flexible and

able to adapt to circumstancesable to adapt to circumstances• Patience- not pushyPatience- not pushy• Complete background checkComplete background check• Interview and references are Interview and references are

crucialcrucial

Possible Interview and Possible Interview and Reference QuestionsReference Questions

• Ask references to comment on the Ask references to comment on the candidate’s ability to commit to a long candidate’s ability to commit to a long term matchterm match

• Ask the reference how the candidate Ask the reference how the candidate handles unexpected events and changeshandles unexpected events and changes

• Ask candidate to respond to various role Ask candidate to respond to various role play scenariosplay scenarios

• Ask the volunteer how they role model Ask the volunteer how they role model good behavior (patience, communication, good behavior (patience, communication, etc.)etc.)

Mentor TrainingMentor Training• Mentors with less than two hours of pre-Mentors with less than two hours of pre-

match training report the lowest levels of match training report the lowest levels of closeness and supportiveness with their closeness and supportiveness with their mentees. mentees.

(Herrera, Sipe & McClanahan, 2000; Rhodes 2002)(Herrera, Sipe & McClanahan, 2000; Rhodes 2002)

• Mentors with six or more hours of pre-Mentors with six or more hours of pre-match training report the strongest match training report the strongest relationships.relationships.

(Herrera., Sipe & McClanahan, 2000; Rhodes 2002)(Herrera., Sipe & McClanahan, 2000; Rhodes 2002)

• Training provides mentoring staff with an Training provides mentoring staff with an opportunity to learn more about volunteers opportunity to learn more about volunteers and understand areas in which the mentor and understand areas in which the mentor may need additional support or trainingmay need additional support or training

Mentor TrainingMentor Training

• Training topicsTraining topics– Reporting abuse and neglectReporting abuse and neglect– Boundaries and program policiesBoundaries and program policies– CommunicationCommunication– Youth developmentYouth development– Building relationshipsBuilding relationships– Cultural sensitivityCultural sensitivity– Understanding the role of a mentorUnderstanding the role of a mentor

MatchingMatching

• Complete comprehensive intake with Complete comprehensive intake with youth to get to know the youth and youth to get to know the youth and their needstheir needs

• Consider compatibility (interests, Consider compatibility (interests, personality types, skills)personality types, skills)

• Match meetingMatch meeting• Set clear goals/ contractSet clear goals/ contract• Provide an initial activity for the Provide an initial activity for the

match to complete togethermatch to complete together

Match Support Match Support • Communicate with mentor, youth and Communicate with mentor, youth and

family on a regular basisfamily on a regular basis– Progress reportsProgress reports– PhonePhone– EmailEmail– Face to faceFace to face

• Ensure that staff are trained and aware of Ensure that staff are trained and aware of resources for families resources for families

• Provide social recreational, educational Provide social recreational, educational and service activities for matches and service activities for matches

• Ask for youth feedback and ideasAsk for youth feedback and ideas• Provide safe opportunities for youth Provide safe opportunities for youth

leadershipleadership

Match ClosureMatch Closure

• Plan ahead- this is a process, not a Plan ahead- this is a process, not a meetingmeeting

• Talk about future contactTalk about future contact• Provide an opportunity for mentors and Provide an opportunity for mentors and

mentees to share feedbackmentees to share feedback• Determine if youth or mentor want to be Determine if youth or mentor want to be

re-matchedre-matched“ “ Where would I be without Cal? Well, either I would be in jail Where would I be without Cal? Well, either I would be in jail

or dead. Before my mentor I thought that life kind of sucked, or dead. Before my mentor I thought that life kind of sucked, but now I don’t. Sometimes I think he get’s disappointed but now I don’t. Sometimes I think he get’s disappointed because he wants even more for me- he really believes in because he wants even more for me- he really believes in me. What he doesn’t always realize is how far I’ve come. me. What he doesn’t always realize is how far I’ve come. Now I even want to graduate and, you know, I want to live.”Now I even want to graduate and, you know, I want to live.”

-Journey 4-H mentee-Journey 4-H mentee16 years old, matched for 4 years 16 years old, matched for 4 years

Jamie: My Life NowJamie: My Life Now• TrampolineTrampoline

• Your time and energy is worth itYour time and energy is worth it• Thank you for doing what you do!Thank you for doing what you do!

Questions?Questions?

Laura SchleedeLaura SchleedeProgram AssistantProgram AssistantJourney 4H Youth MentoringJourney 4H Youth MentoringOttawa County MSU ExtensionOttawa County MSU Extension333 Clinton333 ClintonGrand Haven, MI 49417Grand Haven, MI 49417616.846.8250616.846.8250nordheim@msu.edunordheim@msu.edu

Molly FrendoMolly FrendoAssociate Program LeaderAssociate Program Leader4H Mentor Michigan Initiative4H Mentor Michigan InitiativeMSU ExtensionMSU Extension160 Agriculture Hall160 Agriculture HallE. Lansing, MI 48823E. Lansing, MI 48823517.432.7606517.432.7606frendo@anr.msu.edufrendo@anr.msu.edu