summer gales

Summer Gales

“I watched positive role models, saw how they interacted, and studied their examples of leadership.”

– Summer Gales, former NGYCP cadet

Mentor

An illustration from les Aventures de Télémaque by Francois Fenelon.

The Need…

An estimated 2.5 million youth are involved in mentoring today.

Nearly 15 million at-risk-youth are in need of mentors.

Current Administration began proposing new federal structured mentoring programs in 2001.

Federal Interest

Federal support for mentoring initiatives has increased. – Mentoring Initiative for System Involved Youth– Federal Mentoring Council

Two new bills concerning mentoring have been introduced to 110th Congress.

The Case for Mentoring

Extends and fortifies positive changes

Translates lessons learned

Fortifies program values

Anchors reentry planning

Assists with post residential tasks

Extends program accountability

What does it look like?

An illustration from les Aventures de Télémaque by Francois Fenelon.

Mentoring Typologies

Developmental

Prescriptive

Social

Instrumental

Mentoring Typologies

Classic– 1:1 Adult to youth ratio– Structured, recognized

relationship– Adult as “role model”

Friend to Friend– Highly gendered– Among age peers– Highly intimate

Long Term Relationship– 1:1 Adult to youth ratio– Mentoring grows out of an

existing relationship– Characterized by reciprocity

Group Mentoring– 1:>2 ratio– Often held in a public place – A variation on classic

mentoring

Effective Mentoring

An illustration from les Aventures de Télémaque by Francois Fenelon.

The 5 Elements of Mentoring Programs

Recruit– Define eligibility, market the program, conduct

information sessions

Screen– Written applications, reference checks, face to face

interviews, orientations

Train– Overview of the program, role clarification, clarify

roles, situational “how-to’s”

Match– Establish criteria, ensure all parties understand and

agree to the terms and conditions of participation

Monitor– Continuing training opportunities, regular

communication, goal setting and achievement, conflict resolution, documentation

The 5 Elements of Mentoring Programs

Natural Mentoring

An illustration from les Aventures de Télémaque by Francois Fenelon.

What is Natural Mentoring?

Empowering youth to identify and engage prospective mentors

“Friendly match mentoring”

Programmatic innovation

What are the benefits?

Minimal costs and programmatic effort

Greater retention

More durable

Increased community assets

Stronger outcomes

MATCHMentor

Acceptance and

Orientation

Mentor Application

and Screening

Youth-Initiated

Mentor Nominations

Youth Acceptance

and Orientation

The YIM Match Process

Youth Application

and Screening

It works…

An illustration from les Aventures de Télémaque by Francois Fenelon.

A mentoring success story

“Our mentor/cadet relationship has really gone beyond that to a friendship. Our friendship will continue far beyond the one year the [academy] asks.”

– Mike Nichols, mentor to Ivan Snegirev, former NGYCP cadet

NGYCP Mission

“…to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults.”

Core Components

1. Leadership/Followership2. Responsible Citizenship3. Service to the Community4. Life Coping Skills5. Physical Fitness6. Health and Hygiene7. Job Skills8. Academic Excellence

Program Phases

Frequent Durable

Relationships

1. Pre-ChalleNGe - 2 weeks

2. Residential Phase - 5 months

3. Post-Residential Phase - 12 months

The Mentoring Program

Mentoring Objective

“productive placement at the conclusion of the post-residential phase”

Mentoring is a proven strategy for anchoring

long-term success

Embedding Mentoring

Existing Program

Key Elements

Signature Features

Youth empowered to recruit mentors

Fully integrated into residential program

Mentors engaged in transitional planning

Leveraged case management

Add photo of mentoring relationship

YIM: A case study

Since the design of NGYCP’s youth-initiated mentoring program:

– NGYCP received two national mentoring awards

– 95% of program graduates are matched with mentors at completion of Residential Phase

– Over 90% of graduates are employed, furthering their education, or are active in the military

– Cost of mentoring relationship is estimated at $700

The Results

0102030405060708090100

Month 4 Month 12

AloneMentor

90% of mentors are recruited by youth

90% of those “doing well” are mentored

50% increase in post residential outcomes

$700 per mentoring relationship

Proven Results

70,000 program graduates

75% receive high school diplomas or GEDs

90% continue on to higher education, military service or employment

Training and TA

Standardized mentoring model

Turn-key mentoring curricula

Train the trainer events

Ongoing training and technical assistance

(insert photo of training event or one on one

coaching)

An illustration from les Aventures de Télémaque by Francois Fenelon.

Can we do it in YouthBuild?

Frequent Durable

Relationships

Positive Effects

Do These… Monitor These…. Measure These…

Active Mentoring Relationships

Positive Effects

Frequent Durable

Relationships

Strong Emotional

Bonds

Program Best

Practices

Mentoring Logic Model

Frequent Durable

Relationships

Positive Effects

ImplementDevelopDesignResearch & Design

Phase One

Program Research Site Selection Program Design Kick off training Technical Assistance

Program Research

February through March 2008

Conduct organizational assessment– Focus groups– Online surveys– Site visits

Determine findings and recommendations for customized YouthBuild mentoring program

Publish written report

Site Selection

April 2008

Develop site selection criteria

Select fifteen YouthBuild programs to participate in pilot

Program Design

May through June 2008

Convene team of national experts

Design customized YouthBuild program model

Identify essential program materials

Finalize a written program model

Kick Off Training

July 2008

Conduct two days of training

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Objectives: Prepare YouthBuild leaders to implement the mentoring program

Key elements: – What is mentoring?– Mentoring best practices– The YouthBuild mentoring model– Implementation action planning

Kick Off Training

Technical Assistance

October to December 2008

Monthly conference calls (2 hours)

YouthBuild National Mentoring Coordinator on staff

Limited offsite support