Teen Mentoring Toolkit

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Thinking of starting a teen mentoring program?

This overview is intended to promote teen mentoring and encourage use of the Teen Mentoring Toolkit (TMT), as a powerful resource to support staff in beginning, or enhancing a teen mentoring program.

 

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This overview includes:

• Defining teen mentoring • Benefits of teen mentoring• Goals of mentoring programs• Defining the Teen Mentoring Toolkit (TMT)• Development & pilot review • Toolkit contents• Lessons learned - School pilot sites• Lessons learned - Advice for implementation • Getting started – Guiding questions• CTS mentoring courses• Supports that are available

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Defining teen mentoring

• Teen Mentoring is the relationship between a caring, more experienced individual and a less experienced person resulting in the provision of support, friendship, and constructive role modelling consistently over a period of time.

• It engages junior and high school aged youth as mentors to younger students; and

• creates a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment and community through positive mentoring relationships.

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Benefits of teen mentoring

Positive benefits include improved:• connectedness to the school and community• self-esteem• empathy for others• social skills and pro-social behaviours, and• academic achievement.

Mentoring supports the goals of improved outcomes in mental health; promoting and building mental health capacity in both mentors and younger mentees.

Mentoring provides an opportunity for teens and younger mentees to develop positive social skills, healthy interconnections and enhanced relationships.

(Research cited in Teen Mentoring section of the toolkit @ http://albertamentors.ca/peer-mentoring/teen-mentoring/)

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Goals of mentoring programs

• The intent of mentoring programs may vary, depending on the location, context, needs of students and desired outcomes.

• Some sample goals include:• Transition support: helping grade 6 or grade 9 students

make successful transition to secondary school;• Supporting at risk students: helping younger mentees who

are struggling; who may benefit from academic tutoring, positive social skill development; or from connection with a trusted mentor role-model;

• Leadership opportunities: helping students develop leadership skills, enhanced relationship and communication skills that are transferable throughout life.

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Defining the Teen Mentoring Toolkit (TMT)

The toolkit provides evidence based practices, strategies and tools for planning, implementing and evaluating a quality teen mentoring program. It is:

• a no-cost online resource;

• user-friendly;

• accessible for anyone interested in starting or enhancing mentorship programs; and

• flexible, easily adaptable to a school or community environment and unique program design.

 

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Development & pilot review

• The toolkit is designed in collaboration between the Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities, and the Alberta Mentoring Partnership .

• It is endorsed by teachers and students who participated in pilot projects in Alberta Schools.

• Alberta Education recognizes the value of mentoring in supporting the creation of welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments and participated in the Teen Mentoring Toolkit Steering Committee. This freely available on-line resource will serve to support the implementation and/or improvement of in-school mentoring across Alberta.

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Toolkit content sections include:

• Introduction• Teen Mentoring• Planning A Program• Recruitment• Screening & Selection• Training • Matching

• Match Meetings & Activities• Monitoring & Support• Match Closure• Reflecting, Learning &

Improving• Additional Resources

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Lessons learned – School pilot sites

• “The Toolkit is a great tool for someone starting out; you do not need to start from scratch and you are not on your own.”

• “Every place has a different context and needs. It is okay to start small and even to stay that way to remain viable.”

• “Keep it simple, look at different options, be flexible!” Perm

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“Building positive relationships with kids so they feel connected and that they belong is one of the most valuable things we can do for them. The teen mentoring toolkit equips program staff to do just that! It is extremely user friendly and makes starting a mentoring program very doable. ”

– Pilot Participant

Lessons learned - Advice for implementation

• “Recognize there is a time investment to do this well, so plan and budget schedules accordingly.”

• “School and agency staff can change. Have structures in place that ensure program carries on.”

• “Consider how this fits into your planning cycle: get dates in place before leaving for the summer, meet with your contacts in June to review this year, debrief and plan for next.” Pe

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Getting started - Guiding questions

• What is the need or gap this program is intended to address?

• How might this program support or augment existing initiatives?

• What resources are available? (such as human, financial, time, community networks, etc.)

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Career & Technology Studies Mentoring Courses

Students can receive Career and Technology Studies (CTS) credits for completing high school mentoring courses and for mentoring hours completed.

http://albertamentors.ca/for-educators/alberta-education-career-technology-cts-mentoring-courses/

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Supports that are available

• Alberta Mentoring Partnership mentor.support@albertamentors.ca

• Alberta Education (780) 427-7219 (For toll-free access within Alberta, first dial 310-0000.)

• Safe & Caring Schools and Communities www.safeandcaring (780) 822-1500

• Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters http://bgcbigs.ca/mentoring/

• Your School – talk with your school administrator about teen mentoring in your school.

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