Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program

1. Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program Light the Spark February 18, 2014 In-service Training

2. Getting StartedWelcome & Introductions • Counselors (Introduce all who are there & mention others at all schools.) • Board Members • Staff • Special Guests • Lead Mentors at table – longevity!

3. Why Mentoring?During meal – introductions at table andtalk together about why you want to be involved in the mentoring program. Mentor Leaders at each table will begin discussion & introductions.(p. 190 – Benson –Questions for Mentors)

4. Mission • To promote one-on-one mentoring efforts to youth in the community. • To ensure all youth have the guidance and support of a caring, stable adult. • To empower youth to reach their full potential as contributing individuals in their communities.

5. Training • Goal: • Asset Building (Parent, Teacher, Mentor,Friend) • Character Traits (How Children Succeed) • Components • Benson Book • Expectations • Issues encounter • Relational & Practical Skills • Idea generation • Interaction with others-Questions from Mentors

6. Activities- Intro Guests • City Council – John Kubal • Community Parks & Rec-Pete Colson • Library-Katherine Eberline • Wellness Center-Claire & Mitch • Group Activities-Lead at tables • Website – Mentor Corner and Resources • www.brookingsyouthmentoring.com

7. Mentor • A Mentor is Not … • An ATM • Social worker • Parent • Cool peer • Nag • Parole Officer • Savior • Baby-sitter • A Mentor Is A …. • Friend • Coach • Motivator • Companion • Supporter • Advisor • Advocate • Role Model

8. Commitment By volunteering to serve as a Mentor, I am committing to: • Respect, uphold, and model the programs’ goals and objectives • Volunteer as a mentor for at least a nine month period or more • Devote at least one hour per week, or five hours per month, with my mentee • Attend mentor training sessions and occasional planned events (ex. Social event, fundraiser, etc.); review content from missed training sessions. • Update program administrator MONTHLY regarding the status of the mentoring relationship. Day of month I will email Program Administrator: ________ • Keep program administrator informed of address and telephone changes at all times as well as mentoring resignations • Inform administrator immediately upon incurring criminal charges of any nature • Publish no recognizable photos of my mentee to the internet in any form: Facebook, Google, Shutterfly, etc. There are situations in which this will endanger your mentee. I also understand that my services as a mentor can be terminated for non-compliance with the above statements.

9. Background Checks Reference Calls- Please be sure you have talked to your references. We do call them! Insurance -VSB

10. Matching Mentors and Mentees Mentee Sources • Names received from: • Teachers, Principals, Counselors • Social Service Agencies • Court Services • Boys & Girls Clubs • Self Referral • Medical community • After School Programs Mentor Preparation • Training requirement • Application Forms • Interviews • Reference Checks • NationalBackground Checks

11. School Counselors – Integral part of our programExplain how we contact parents – commitment from parents as well studentsCarleen Holm – Middle School Kathy Miller – Camelot

12. First Time Meeting • First meeting • Mentee, mentor, BCYMP or counselor, parents (preferred) • Counselors explain • Meet at a neutral/public place • School • Boys & Girls Club • Taco Johns • Expectations-First time can be awkward. Be prepared for it. (p. 70 of Benson book- ideas) • Exchange of Information • Clarify requirements • Contact Information

13. Activities • Group Activity or Mentor/Mentee Activity suggestions: • Public places preferred • Bowling • Movie Night • Grilling at the Park • SDSU Sports Events (or local team) • All BHS Activities are FREE!! • Supper at local restaurants or do some cooking! • Endless- check on website. • Discussion at Table – Mentors discuss and add ideas- also use Benson book!- P. 76-82

14. Gift Packs • Filled with coupons to local businesses • An effective way to reward your mentors • Helps with suggestions of things to do • Helps mentors financially-we want to help you do fun things with mentee. (Wellness passes, Children’s Museum, etc. ) • Mentees ask for money or want to do things that cost money – what can you do?? (PP. 76-82) Build a spark – p. 105

15. Communicating • Communication is key • Effective Mentor - Program communication • Phone • Email • Updates • Mail

16. Communicating (cont’d) • Communication with Parents • Challenging aspect to address • Goal is to have consistent feedback to & from the family • The mechanism is unique to the program • Communication between Mentor & Mentee • First Person whenever possible • Frequency and consistency is necessary • Not through liaison person/director but do let us know if you are having difficulty reaching your mentee.

17. Terminating – Saying Good-bye • Very Important to tell BCYMP office that you are planning to retire • Most important to personally talk to student and make sure they understand reasons why you are leaving. • Kathy & Carleen –give suggestions on how to..

18. Legal Issues • Officer Joe Fishbaugher, Board Member – School Resource Officer • Christina Fousek – Board Member - Division of Juvenile Corrections Issues to be aware of (for both you and your mentee), confidentiality & what it means to be Mandatory Reporter.

19. Parent, Teacher, Mentor, Friend • Peter Benson, PHD. Search Institute, c.2010 • Search Institute – conducted research studies on children and adolescents • Found Life goals for youth similar around the world: • Being hopeful about future • Having sense that life has meaning and purpose • Making the world a better place • Protecting earth’s air, land & water • Knowing what is unique & valuable about ourselves

20. Developmental Assets • Youth often lack supports and opportunities to achieve those ideals • Research shows that you and I can help with those nutrients that young people need. • Search Institute has identified a framework of those nutrients – 40 Developmental Assets. (Appendix A – p. 171 – in Benson book.) • Nine of the assets have a common thread – they all require adults to create positive, lasting relationships with young people. That caring adult can be you!

21. Feeling Valued • Feeling valued is a crucial part of human development. • Kids need to believe that they matter to adults. • P. 128-129 Kid-centered Consensus • Discuss at your table how you can do that – how can you help. • What kinds of things can you do with your mentee that will create the feeling that they are valued?

22. How Children SucceedCharacter Traits • Group of researchers identified set of strengths or character traits that likely to predict life satisfaction: • Grit • Self-control • Zest • Social intelligence • Gratitude • Optimism • Curiosity • Discuss at your table what those characteristics mean and how you can help child develop them.

23. Biggest Obstacle to learning & success Poverty (How Children Succeed-p. 195) • Issues you will encounter in mentoring because of the low income • Communication • Food • Hygiene • Focus- Organization • Discussion about issues.

24. Introduction – Mary Moeller • An opportunity for you to learn more! InterLakes Community Action Poverty Simulation April 8 from 1 – 3:15 P.M. First Lutheran Church gymnasium (Touch-Down Jesus) Please RSVP to Mary Moeller Mary.moeller@sdstate.edu

25. QuestionsHand-out –Lead Mentors have them.Questions that are often asked & are there others?

26. Resources • www.mentoring.org • www.mentorconsultinggroup.com • Benson, Peter. Parent, Teacher, Mentor, Friend- How Every Adult Can Change Kids’ Lives. Search Institute, 2010. • Tough, Paul. How Children Succeed. Mariner Books, 2013. • Thank you all for coming!! You do make a difference !