Indiana Quality Mentoring Standards Guidelines for Use

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1 Indiana Quality Mentoring Standards Guidelines for Use The purpose of the Indiana Quality Mentoring Standards is to outline the keys to success leading to effective practice and delivery of high quality mentoring for all youth. These mentoring standards are based on best practices and national research documenting the necessity of engaging young people in high-quality mentoring relationships to achieve positive outcomes. Adherence to the Indiana Quality Mentoring Standards (IQMS) will help ensure that youth across Indiana succeed in school, work, and life when they receive the full benefit of mentoring. About the Indiana Quality Mentoring Standards The mentoring standards outline best practices specific to high quality mentoring for youth. These standards were developed through the research and development efforts of The Indiana Youth Institute, Indiana Mentoring Partnership, and national and community partners. The development process included alignment with the national standards identified in the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring (3 rd edition) and cross-comparison review by MENT and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana. Indicator Items that align with the national quality practice standards are designated as NQMS, while those that align with the Big Brother Big Sister standards are identified as BBBS on the Indiana Quality Mentoring Standards. The IQMS is designed to incorporate the essential practices for both volunteer and professional mentoring. It can be used by community-based, school-based, faith-based, corporate-based, and Internet-based mentoring programs to meet the specific needs of the young people they serve in the settings in which they operate. Guidelines for Use The IQMS is a self-assessment tool with a progressive, developmental emphasis. Mentoring organizations and programs may use this self-paced instrument to guide their strategic priorities and document their actions while aligning confidently with state and national quality standards specific to mentoring. The Standards are organized around seven core areas of quality mentoring Standard 1: Leadership Standard 2: Talent Standard 3: Performance Culture Standard 4: Mentor/Mentee Match Standard 5: Program Service Standard 6: Program Management and Operations Standard 7: Program Evaluation

2 Each Standard is divided into a series of Indicators that describe adherence to basic quality practices that any mentoring program in any setting can implement. Incorporation of these Indicators provides programs and agencies alike with a roadmap for supporting and achieving quality mentoring practices and outcomes. There are a total of 33 Indicators across the seven Standards. Indicators are described comprehensively using two types of Items. Essential Items [ES] provide the basis for adherence to basic quality mentoring practices. Proficient, or continuous and sustained implementation of Essential Items aligns a program specifically with all national quality practice standards and some Big Brother Big Sister standards. Programs in early stages of development may wish to use the Essential Items as a basis for initial self-assessment, planning and implementation to develop a solid foundation for quality mentoring practice and outcomes. Essential Items are designated by both the abbreviation [ES] and highlighted rows on the IQMS tool. Enhanced Items [EN] extend beyond the Essential Item level and further detail key practices that are important not only to quality mentoring but also to leading, managing, and operating a mentoring program or agency. Enhanced Items compliment and support Essential Items, and in many cases they provide clarification or help fill procedural gaps between these items. They align with many Big Brother Big Sister standards. Programs in early stages of development or with fewer resources may wish to self-assess and implement the Enhanced Items after documenting proficient levels of attainment across most Essential Items (at least 80%). Alternatively, programs with longer histories or adequate resources may determine that these Enhanced Items already are being implemented or are easily implemented. They may wish to document them early on in their self-evaluation and planning process to determine their level of implementation for each one, pursuing proficiency with a combination of Essential and Enhanced Items. Enhanced Items are designated by the abbreviation [EN] on the IQMS tool. Each Essential and Enhanced Item includes suggested evidence to assist reviewers and leaders with self-evaluation and program development. This stated evidence is not required, nor is it limited to the items specified. Users are encouraged to consider other available quantitative and qualitative sources of documentable evidence to support the proficient, as well as the sustained and continuous implementation of each Essential and Enhanced Item. The specific evidence provided must support the level of implementation that is claimed. Well-established or adequately resourced mentoring programs may easily utilize the IQMS in its entirety for selfassessment, planning, and implementation. Alternatively, this broad approach may not be possible or desirable for new, small, or minimally resourced programs. In either case, programs 2

3 are encouraged to target no more than three to five Standards for self-assessment and development at any given time. It is desirable for programs to reach at least an 80% level of proficiency across the targeted Essential Items within a Standard before proceeding to other Items. Beyond documentation of key quality practices, Essential and Enhanced Items may help inform strategic planning as well as mentoring program development for all programs. Regardless of utilization approach, all programs and organizations are cautioned to adhere to an accountability tactic for each Indicator Item that identifies one person who ensures that each item is developed, implemented and documented at the targeted level. Future Directions The IQMS represent the culmination of a process designed to increase quality mentoring practices and enhance positive outcomes for all youth. There undoubtedly will be subsequent revisions and editions of this tool, and your feedback and suggestions are welcome. We appreciate each and every mentor both volunteer and professional as well as the mentoring programs, consultants, and funders across the state of Indiana who diligently pursue excellence and incorporate research and best-available practice wisdom to help young people of all abilities and situations benefit from the mentoring experience. Let us continue to expand our quality mentoring practices for youth. Mentoring works. The Rating Scale The IQMS self-assessment tool uses a leveled implementation rating scale to help teams assess the degree to which the Items comprising each quality Indicator are actively implemented. The definitions outlined below are intended to help guide the reviewer s understanding of the descriptors and numeric identifiers. Levels of Implementation Awareness (1) We are aware of this quality practice, We need significant support with this quality practice, We have not started to engage in this quality Characteristics of Program Behaviors There is recognition of this quality practice and its impact on mentoring. There is preliminary dialogue or consideration of this quality The nature and scope of this quality practice are being investigated. The organization or program is exploring this quality This quality practice has been considered and is not relevant to the mentoring program. Policies and procedures are being developed or aligned to 3

4 Development (2) We are actively developing our readiness to implement this quality practice, We are in the early stages of implementing this quality Proficiency (3) We are capably implementing this quality practice most or all of the time. Sustainable Continuous Quality (4) We are implementing this quality practice in a manner that is consistent and maintainable for the foreseeable future, AND This quality practice has become an integrated feature of our mentoring, quality improvement, and outcome evaluation systems. Resources for Support support this quality A framework has been generated to support implementation of this quality Leadership endorses or accepts accountability for implementation of this quality practice and ensures progress according to a plan. This quality practice is being developed by a team. Mentors or other staff are being trained to implement this quality practice or are in the early stages of implementation. The program is piloting this quality There is shared responsibility within the organization or program for this quality Adequate quantitative and qualitative evidence is available to support proficient implementation of this quality Program review processes are in place and implemented regularly for this quality Results of program reviews of this quality practice are integrated into planning for improvement and informed decision-making. A framework has been established, used, and reviewed to support implementation of this quality Dialogue about the results of program reviews of this quality practice are evident as part of discussions and associated actions to improve program effectiveness. Results of program reviews of this quality practice are clearly and consistently linked to resource allocation processes which can be demonstrated or validated with specific examples. The organization or program assumes primary accountability for ongoing implementation of this quality Program review processes concerning this quality practice are ongoing, systematic, and used to assess and improve mentoring outcomes. The program reviews and refines its program practices to continuously improve this quality The results of program reviews are used to continually refine and improve program practices resulting in improvements in youth mentoring. Prioritized utilization and evaluation according to the IQMS is evident in the annual strategic plan for the program or organization. Program materials related to this quality practice consistently identify alignment with the IQMS. 4

5 Additional assistance with the self-assessment and implementation processes related to the IQMS may be accessed from a variety of sources. Users may refer to the Indiana Mentoring Partnership website ( for self-guided and supportive materials as they continue to become available. Customized consulting services are available to help programs achieve proficiency and/or continuous and sustained practice with the Standards at a level that may be useful for funding and recognition purposes. These services may be obtained through The Indiana Youth Institute ( Mentoring programs and organizations also are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly e-newsletter published by the Indiana Mentoring Partnership by registering at where information on upcoming trainings, webinars and additional resources is provided. Additionally, mentoring programs and organizations across the state are highly encouraged to connect with one another to share practices and extend resources as together we work to ensure that quality mentoring is available and recognized in every community. 5