WelcomeWelcomeBanks County School SystemBanks County School System

P.A.W.S. ProgramP.A.W.S. Program

(Positive Adults Winning (Positive Adults Winning Students)Students)

MentorsMentors

Meet the needs of these young peopleMeet the needs of these young people Your main purpose is to be a caring Your main purpose is to be a caring

and supportive adult.and supportive adult. The manual will help you understand The manual will help you understand

your role as a mentor and to provide your role as a mentor and to provide tools for you.tools for you.

You will perform services that enrich, You will perform services that enrich, extend, and enhance a child’s daily extend, and enhance a child’s daily experience.experience.

The Mission of Being A The Mission of Being A MentorMentor

Banks County P.A.W.S. Mission:Banks County P.A.W.S. Mission:

The Mission of the PAWS program is to The Mission of the PAWS program is to build and strengthen the character and build and strengthen the character and competence of our at-risk children and competence of our at-risk children and

youth in our community. With youth in our community. With committed mentors, we believe they can committed mentors, we believe they can

make a positive impact on the critical make a positive impact on the critical needs of their mentees in a secure and needs of their mentees in a secure and

non-threatening atomosphere.non-threatening atomosphere.

WHO MENTORED WHO MENTORED YOU?YOU?

Who Benefits?

Why P.A.W.S. Why P.A.W.S. Program?Program? All of us can remember at least one All of us can remember at least one

person outside of your parent(s) that had person outside of your parent(s) that had an impact on your life. The P.A.W.S. an impact on your life. The P.A.W.S. program is just that, a program to reach program is just that, a program to reach students who may need a little extra students who may need a little extra attention.attention.

This program is a collaborative effort of This program is a collaborative effort of Banks County Family Connection, a non-Banks County Family Connection, a non-profit organization for the betterment of profit organization for the betterment of children and families in Banks County and children and families in Banks County and the Banks County School System.the Banks County School System.

PurposePurpose

The program was established to provide:The program was established to provide:– An extra, supportive person to area children and An extra, supportive person to area children and

youthyouth– To provide role models, friends, motivatorsTo provide role models, friends, motivators– An additional adult who can guide youth on the road An additional adult who can guide youth on the road

to academic and personal successto academic and personal success– ““I think it's an honor to be a role model to one I think it's an honor to be a role model to one

person or maybe more than that. If you are person or maybe more than that. If you are given a chance to be a role model, I think you given a chance to be a role model, I think you should always take it because you can influence should always take it because you can influence a person's life in a positive light, and that's a person's life in a positive light, and that's what I want to do. That's what it's all about.” what I want to do. That's what it's all about.” Author:  Tiger Woods 1975-, American GolferAuthor:  Tiger Woods 1975-, American Golfer

How It Works (Criteria)How It Works (Criteria)

Complete Mentor Complete Mentor ApplicationApplication

Pass Background Pass Background CheckCheck

Attend TrainingAttend Training Spend at least 2 hrs. Spend at least 2 hrs.

per month with your per month with your mentee (Research mentee (Research shows that a shows that a minimum of 4 hrs. a minimum of 4 hrs. a month or 1 hr. a month or 1 hr. a week is best.)week is best.)

Keep up-to-date with Keep up-to-date with all relevant formsall relevant forms

Attend some school Attend some school activitiesactivities

Mentors must be Mentors must be willing to develop a willing to develop a positive relationship positive relationship with the child, teacher, with the child, teacher, and parent(s) when and parent(s) when availableavailable

Work with teachers, Work with teachers, counselors, etc.counselors, etc.

Recruit new mentorsRecruit new mentors

Who Are You Working Who Are You Working With?With?

The youth are residents of Banks County The youth are residents of Banks County and enrolled in schooland enrolled in school

These students are in need of a positive These students are in need of a positive role model . They may be going through role model . They may be going through a difficult or challenging situation and a difficult or challenging situation and need another caring adult in their life.need another caring adult in their life.

Each student must want to participate Each student must want to participate in the programin the program

Each student must have consent of the Each student must have consent of the parent or guardian to participate in the parent or guardian to participate in the programprogram

School OrientationSchool Orientation((Becoming familiar with school Becoming familiar with school

policies)policies) The Importance of The Importance of

ConfidentialityConfidentiality Where and how to sign Where and how to sign

in and outin and out School Procedures in the School Procedures in the

case of an Emergencycase of an Emergency

Work with school Work with school schedule/calendarschedule/calendar

Know who to Know who to communicate problems communicate problems to (School Counselor or to (School Counselor or Administration)Administration)

Know your contact Know your contact person (School person (School Counselor)Counselor)

Learn your students Learn your students scheduleschedule

Where your Mentor Where your Mentor Badge. (Remember that Badge. (Remember that you are a visitor and you are a visitor and some people in the some people in the school will not know you.)school will not know you.)

Mentor Expectations-Mentor Expectations-Mentor ManuelMentor Manuel

Contact school before Contact school before visiting (Is there visiting (Is there anything special anything special happening that day and happening that day and is you mentee at is you mentee at school?)school?)

Honor your commitment Honor your commitment to the student. to the student. (maintain consistent and (maintain consistent and regular attendance)regular attendance)

Always check in Always check in w/school officew/school office

Sign in: Mentor Sign in: Mentor visitation form in officevisitation form in office

Do NOT make promises Do NOT make promises you can’t keepyou can’t keep

Remember that you are Remember that you are not taking the place of not taking the place of the parent. You are the parent. You are adding a friend and role adding a friend and role model to their lives.model to their lives.

You are NOT Santa ClausYou are NOT Santa Claus Relay any concerns to Relay any concerns to

the School Counselor or the School Counselor or AdministrationAdministration

Don’t expect complete Don’t expect complete transformationtransformation

We do not require or We do not require or encourage mentors to encourage mentors to spend time with their spend time with their mentees outside of mentees outside of school.school.

Building a Relationship Building a Relationship Takes Time - Takes Time - Mentor’s Do’sMentor’s Do’s

ListenListen Be Flexible (Don’t always do Be Flexible (Don’t always do

things your way.)things your way.) Be Consistent (Remember Be Consistent (Remember

they have had a lot of they have had a lot of disappointments)disappointments)

Give ReasonGive Reason Show Affection (use Show Affection (use

appropriate behavior – Show appropriate behavior – Show your affection by letting your your affection by letting your mentee know you’ve been mentee know you’ve been thinking about them.)thinking about them.)

Model Appropriate BehaviorModel Appropriate Behavior Have FUN Have FUN (Laughter is the (Laughter is the

closest thing to the grace closest thing to the grace of God. Author:  Karl of God. Author:  Karl Barth 1886-1968, Swiss Barth 1886-1968, Swiss TheologianTheologian

Recognize Accomplishments Recognize Accomplishments (note when they try and (note when they try and succeed)succeed)

Give Encouragement (Remind Give Encouragement (Remind them that they can do it.)them that they can do it.)

See them as Individuals (Your See them as Individuals (Your mentee is unique and special)mentee is unique and special)

Respect Boundaries Respect Boundaries Remember Details (They truly Remember Details (They truly

want to be heard and when want to be heard and when you remember it means a lot you remember it means a lot to them.)to them.)

Building a relationship is like Building a relationship is like building a bank account. building a bank account. Every time you do what you Every time you do what you said you were going to do is said you were going to do is like making a deposit that can like making a deposit that can later be drawn against.later be drawn against.

Qualities of aQualities of a successful mentor successful mentor A positive role model.A positive role model. Meets consistently with Meets consistently with

the student.the student. Shows up on time & is Shows up on time & is

committed.committed. Listens & communicates Listens & communicates

well.well. Cares about helping a Cares about helping a

student in need.student in need.

Is not a judgmental Is not a judgmental person.person.

Reinforces student’s Reinforces student’s success.success.

Has an outstanding Has an outstanding record of employment & record of employment & no criminal record.no criminal record.

Remember - “People Remember - “People seldom improve when seldom improve when they have no other they have no other model but model but themselves to copy.” themselves to copy.” Oliver GoldsmithOliver Goldsmith

Mentoring Mentoring Don'tsDon'ts Criticize the Past (Avoid Criticize the Past (Avoid

bringing up past bringing up past mistakes)mistakes)

Generalize Negative Generalize Negative Behaviors (i.e. “you Behaviors (i.e. “you always”)always”)

Share personal problems Share personal problems (They have enough of (They have enough of their own.)their own.)

Pry (Be sensitive)Pry (Be sensitive) Constantly Teach Constantly Teach

(Remember that you are (Remember that you are a support)a support)

Don’t Interrupt (let you Don’t Interrupt (let you mentee finish telling you mentee finish telling you the story or information. the story or information. They need to be heard.)They need to be heard.)

Pass Judgement – Wait to Pass Judgement – Wait to be asked before you be asked before you offer your opinions.offer your opinions.

Criticize Family (even if Criticize Family (even if you disapprove of what you disapprove of what they are doing)they are doing)

Criticize FriendsCriticize Friends Use lots of “shoulds” Use lots of “shoulds”

(This may shut the door (This may shut the door between you and your between you and your mentee)mentee)

Discourage DifferencesDiscourage Differences Punish Honesty (Thank Punish Honesty (Thank

them for being honest them for being honest with you even if you with you even if you disapprove)disapprove)

Working with Your Working with Your MenteeMentee

Let them introduce you Let them introduce you to their teacherto their teacher

Eat lunch or breakfast Eat lunch or breakfast with themwith them

Find individual likesFind individual likes Talk about goals and Talk about goals and

goal setting. goal setting. Have FUN together!Have FUN together!

Ask them what they would Ask them what they would like to do. (Remember you like to do. (Remember you are there for them so find are there for them so find out what their interests)out what their interests)

Be CREATIVE!Be CREATIVE! Be positive even when Be positive even when

they fail. they fail. (“It is hard to (“It is hard to fail, but it is worse fail, but it is worse never to have tried to never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore succeed.” Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt

FormsForms Mentor Sign-In Mentor Sign-In

Form @school – Form @school – Know your Know your school’s policy and school’s policy and always where your always where your Mentor Badge.Mentor Badge.

Mentor Program Mentor Program Progress ReportProgress Report

Mentor Mentor Assignment-Assignment-

1st visit1st visit

School-based School-based acknowledgemenacknowledgementt

Mentor Mentor ApplicationApplication

Background Background Check Consent Check Consent FormForm

Banks County P.A.W.S Banks County P.A.W.S ProgramProgram

We stress that your commitment to We stress that your commitment to this program and to your mentee is this program and to your mentee is a very serious one that requires a very serious one that requires self-motivation and self-discipline.self-motivation and self-discipline.

Mentors are not meant to take the Mentors are not meant to take the place of parents or teachers. They place of parents or teachers. They are role models confidants, are role models confidants, advocates, counselors, and friends.advocates, counselors, and friends.

THANKS!THANKS!

We will be happy to answer We will be happy to answer any questions you have.any questions you have.