November/December 2001

What's Inside:

Features
— New Grants Expand Lab Work
— Mentoring Youth
— Mentoring Center Gains New Director
— What Works in Title I Schools
— Tots and Technology
— Lesson Study for Teachers
— Transition to Teaching

Conference News
— Conference Call

What's New on the Web
— www.nwrel.org

Order
— Document Order Form

Flashback
— Pictures from past events

Credits
— Credits

Enhancing
Youth Mentoring Programs

By Michael Garringer

The National Mentoring Center at NWREL has released several more additions to its series of technical assistance packets. These publications offer strategies and tips for tackling some of the biggest issues facing the development of youth mentoring programs.

Written by Public/Private Ventures of Philadelphia, the information in these packets is based on research into the most effective practices for mentoring programs. These newest releases look at some of the most important facets of running a successful program:

Recruiting Mentors: A Guide to Finding Volunteers to Work With Youth (Packet #3)
This guide examines the ever-present need for effective mentor recruitment. It offers key steps in developing and implementing any targeted mentor recruitment plan and examines approaches for recruiting two large groups of potential mentors: college students and adults.

Building Relationships: A Guide for New Mentors (Packet #4)
Based on an extensive survey of mentors and their mentorees, this guide focuses on 10 effective relationship strategies for mentors. Each suggestion is illustrated through quotes from mentors and mentorees highlighting the importance of active listening, trust building, and positive sharing. This publication is written not for program staff, but for the mentors themselves.

Training New Mentors (Packet #5)
For program coordinators and staff trainers, this publication contains a dozen orientation activities for new mentors. The guide is divided into two sections: Mentors' Roles and Expectations, which focuses on the basics of mentor and mentoree relationships; and Speaking of Trust, which highlights listening skills and communication development. All activities come with facilitator notes and handouts and many contain role-playing exercises to help new mentors understand the relationship from a variety of viewpoints.

Supporting Mentors (Packet #6)
Two often overlooked aspects of program management are monitoring the mentor-mentoree pairs and providing ongoing training and support for mentors. This publication examines both of these topics and offers worksheets to help programs determine appropriate policies and strategies.

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