EFFECTIVE MENTORING FOR YOUTH FACING BARRIERS TO SUCCESS Ontario Mentoring Coalition March 21, 2016 Presented by: Dr. Melanie Bania & Vanessa Chase, MCA With funding provided by: Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS)
Welcome & Introductions • Welcome by the Ontario Mentoring Coalition (Co-Chairs Beth Malcolm & Cathy Denyer) • Housekeeping: How to use the platform • Webinar Objectives • Webinar Outline
Webinar Objectives ① Share information on best practices for mentoring youth who face barriers to success ② Coming soon: Toolkit to help you plan, tailor, implement and evaluate an effective mentoring program for youth who face barriers to success
Webinar Outline Topic Time What do we mean by “mentoring for youth facing barriers to success” ? 1:10 – 1:15 How effective is mentoring for youth who face barriers to success? 1:15 – 1:20 How can we make our program the most effective and safe as possible? 1:20 – 1:35 What do we need to consider when providing mentoring opportunities for 1:35 – 1:55 youth who face barriers to success? What are best practices in program management and sustainability planning? 1:55 – 2:00 How can we build our capacity for program evaluation? 2:00 – 2:10 Questions & Discussion 2:10 – 2:30
What do we mean by “ mentoring for youth facing barriers to success”?
Definition of Mentoring • The term ‘mentor’ can be broadly defined as: “an experienced and trusted advisor” (Oxford Dictionaries, n.d.) • “ Mentoring takes place between young persons (i.e., mentees) and older or more experienced persons (i.e., mentors) who are acting in a non-professional helping capacity to provide relationship-based support that benefits one or more areas of the mentee’s development” (MENTOR, 2015, p. 9)
Definition of Youth Facing Barriers to Success • Youth who experience obstacles to full participation in their communities and may benefit from targeted support and opportunities (Ministry of Children & Youth Services). • Youth with academic challenges • Indigenous youth • Racialized youth • Newcomer youth • Youth with developmental / other disabilities • Youth with mental health needs • LGBTTQQIP2SA youth • Youth in or leaving care • Homeless youth • Youth involved with the criminal justice system • Girls
Types of Mentoring
Types of Mentoring Formal Mentoring Informal Mentoring • Occurs in a formalized • Occurs outside of a mentoring program where formalized mentoring mentees are intentionally program matched to mentors Natural mentors (ex: school bus driver, various models: 1-1, group, community leader) team, peer, online Content mentors (ex: guest speaker, various settings: community, job shadowing) school, faith-based, agency, Program mentors workplace (ex: homework club or summer camp)
Quick Poll! Question 1: Are you currently involved in providing formal mentoring for youth facing barriers to success? Question 2: Are you currently involved in planning a formal mentoring program for youth facing barriers to success? Question 3: Are you interested in starting a formal mentoring program for youth facing barriers to success in the future ?
How effective is mentoring for youth who face barriers to success?
Research tell us … • For young people in general, formal mentoring can have positive effects for mentees (small/modest + outcomes) • re: academic, emotional, behavioural and social development • Impacts are comparable to other similar formal interventions (can be powerful, but not a silver bullet) • Evidence is less common, conclusive or definitive for the overall effectiveness of mentoring for youth deemed at higher-risk of negative life outcomes
Research tell us … • Mentoring can benefit youth with various ‘risk profiles’ (mentoring relationships that are similar in strength, duration, and benefits) • Somewhat stronger and more consistent benefits for youth who score relatively high on individual risk factors (challenging attitudes and behaviours, academic struggles, significant health needs, involvement in the justice system) but not on environmental risk factors (e.g., poverty, unsafe housing, low parental support)
Research tell us … • Challenges reported by mentors and reasons matches end early differ in relation to the youth’s risk profile and life circumstances (e.g., fear attachment vs. transiency vs. parental interference) • Mentoring may be more effective for youth facing barriers to success when it is combined with other services and supports • Important factor: the young person must be open to making a long-term commitment to form a relationship with a mentor
Effectiveness of Mentoring: Gaps • Youth with mental health needs • Indigenous youth • LGBTTQQIP2SA • Homeless youth
How can we make our mentoring program the most effective and safe as possible?
Universal factors for greater impacts • Closeness • Consistency • Youth-centredness • Structure • Duration (at least 1 year)
Mentoring Relationship Styles ① Developmental – focus on relational activities first ② Instrumental – focus on goal directed and skill-building activities first “Research suggests that the provision of structure in the relationship should not be at the expense of a primary focus on having fun and developing the relationship” (MENTOR, 2015, p. 42)
Mentoring Relationship Styles ① Assistance Mentoring • For youth who HAVE NOT been deeply affected by individual, family, community, and/or societal risk factors • Provide support in academics, job counseling, leadership skills, conflict resolution skills, social recreation, minor self-esteem dvt ② Transformational Mentoring • For youth who HAVE been deeply affected by individual, family, community, and/or societal risk factors • Provide non-punitive support to affect change in negative self-esteem / self-concept, attitudes, behaviours, lack of hope • Must offer an expression of profound empathy, sensitivity, compassion, and care
Mentoring Standards Evidence-based and practitioner-informed standards and benchmarks for planning and implementing an effective mentoring program Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring TM http://www.mentoring.org/program-resources/elements-of- effective-practice-for-mentoring/
Mentoring Standards Recruiting Participants • Realistically describe and portray the program and opportunity • Get potential participants to complete an application (written/verbal) • Get their commitment in writing Screening & Assessing Participants • Establish criteria and stick to them • Interview each participant individually and in-depth • Screen prospective mentors: time, commitment, personal qualities, background check
Mentoring Standards Training Participants Minimum = two hours of pre-match, in-person training • Supplement with post-match training as much as possible • Use culturally appropriate language and tools • Focus on knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and skills for developing • positive and safe relationship Boundaries, policies: social media, transportation, gifts, tag-alongs, etc. • Matching Participants Based on interests; proximity; availability; age; gender; race; ethnicity; • personality; expressed preferences; goals; strengths; experiences Arrange a staff supervised initial meeting • Sign a commitment agreement •
Mentoring Standards Supporting & Supervising the Match • Contact each person at least 2x in first month, 1x each month thereafter • Monitor relationship milestones and youth safety • Provide ongoing advice, problem solving, training, and access to resources for the duration of each relationship Involving Parents / Caregivers • Establish a congenial and collaborative working relationship with the mentee’s parent or guardian, or other significant adult in their life
Mentoring Standards Closing a Match & Re-matching • Facilitate closure in a way that affirms contributions of both • Offer the opportunity to prepare for the closure • Offer the opportunity to assess the experience and share thoughts • Consider their preference and readiness for re-matching Celebrating Efforts & Successes • Recognize efforts and successes of mentees to keep them engaged • Recognize mentors on an annual basis (at minimum) to increase their perceptions of self-efficacy and encourage them to continue volunteering
Best Practices for Mentoring Youth Facing Barriers to Success
Best Practices Program Planning • Partner with relevant agencies • Hire staff from the community • Provide staff training on special considerations • Use accommodations Program Implementation • Explore & celebrate the diversity of mentees • E-Mentoring may be a promising practice
Best Practices Mentor Recruitment, Screening & Selection • Consider mentors who have had “troubled pasts” • Mentors may need to be more experienced Mentee Referral, Screening & Selection • Ensure recruitment materials are in multiple formats and languages • Where possible accept mentees before major transitions
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