Mentoring is defined as a positive, guiding, caring individual, providing advice, support and encouragement. Types of Mentoring

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1 Mentoring is defined as a positive, guiding, caring individual, providing advice, support and encouragement. Types of Mentoring Act 33/34 clearances (Pennsylvania child abuse and criminal background checks) and mentor training is a requirement for all programs. One-on-One Mentoring: Traditional mentoring pairs one person (mentee) with another person (mentor). Most pairs are matched through an organization. While variations exist among different programs, the ability to form a unique bond between the mentee and the mentor is consistent. By spending time with just one person, mentors and mentees can set specific goals based on their own interests. o Commitment time varies (depending on program) o Frequency of contact/meeting with mentee may vary Example: meet with mentee for one hour each week or two hours twice a month Amachi Pittsburgh (faith-based program) Mentoring children of prisoners; one-on-one mentoring. Amachi is looking for mentors to make a difference in the lives of children of prisoners and their families. Mentoring helps youth defy statistics predicting generational incarceration and can occur at a time and place that both the mentor and caregiver agree upon. Average Age of Mentor: 20 to 85 years old. Act 33/34 Clearance Required: Yes Time Commitment: 1 hour per week for a year. One on one Gwen s Girls (community-based program) Gwen's Girls seeks mentors who can guide girls to become self-sufficient adults through a holistic, gender-specific program, education and experience. Serving the following areas: Regent Square, North Side, Homewood, Wilkinsburg, East Liberty, Point Breeze and if court ordered, all of Allegheny County. Average age of Mentor: Must be 21 yrs old. TB Test/Physical Training is 2 Hrs - After initial training other training will be offered throughout the year Time Commitment: Flexible as little as 1 hour a week with a 1 year commitment.

2 Duquesne University C.L.A.A.Y. Program (school-based) Career Literacy for African American Youth (CLAAY) is a program of Duquesne University's Institute for Economic Transformation that supports the future workforce by empowering motivated youth to define, pursue and achieve their individual career and educational goals through one-on-one career monitoring, academic tutoring and related programming.claay is a school based career mentoring and academic tutoring program in over fourteen high schools in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. CLAAY Career Mentors are matched one on one with students during the school day to help students in the area of career literacy. Team Mentoring: Average Age of Mentor: Act 33/34 Clearancs Required: Yes Time Commitment: one hour/twice a month In some programs, several mentors are assigned to a group of mentees. Mentoring generally takes place in a predetermined location, like a school, recreation center or other supervised environment. For busy mentors, this buddy system can assure that if one has to miss a session another can fill in. Team mentoring has benefits for the young people too. In a more social setting, shy kids are under less pressure to immediately bond with one adult o Adult to child ratio is usually 1 to 4 Career Connection Charter High School (school-based program) E-mentoring Mission: Provide a safe, structured learning environment that prepares all students for a productive life. Through small class size, an interdisciplinary curriculum, innovative teaching techniques and an internship component, our students will be prepared to make informed career choices. Curriculum will be provided. Time Commitment: One school year (October-June) Team (two mentors to 3-5 mentees) Meetings take place once a month for one hour One mentor is matched with one student and they communicate via . This can also be incorporated with one-to-one mentoring. o Mentors are asked to connect with mentees once a week Smart Futures/PA e-mentoring The Pa e-mentoring Project is designed to provide high school students the opportunity to communicate, in a structured format, with a professional in their field of interest.

3 Mentors are being recruited from the region's corporate and nonprofit community to communicate with students, ages 12-18, via protected accounts. Mentors have agreed to send a minimum of one a week during the school year. This is an extremely effective and rewarding opportunity to encourage student interest in career options and resources in their community. Average Age of Mentor: Time Commitment: One school year (Sept-June) Beginning With Books: Read Together Program The `Read Together' program matches children with volunteers who read to them one-on-one during weekly sessions at a library site. Children ages 3-8 whose parent(s) or grandparent(s) are enrolled in an adult literacy program or Head Start, are eligible for the program. Libraries sites are: Allegheny Regional, Beechview, Braddock, East Liberty, Hazelwood, Hill District, Homewood, Knoxville, Lawrenceville, Martin Luther King Jr. Reading Center, Mt. Washington, Oakland, Sheraden, South Side, Squirrel Hill, Wilkinsburg, West End, Braddock and Swissvale. Average of Mentor: 15 to 90 Act 33/34 Clearance Required: Yes Time Commitment: Volunteers must be at least 15 years old and must commit to 1-1 ½ hour reading sessions once or twice a week for six months. Participating Libraries: Allegheny Regional, Beechview, Braddock, East Liberty, Hazelwood, Hill District, Homewood, Homestead, Knoxville, Lawrenceville, Martin Luther King Jr. Reading Center, Mt Washington, Oakland, Sheraden, South Side, Squirrel Hill, Swissvale, Wilkinsburg and East End.

4 The Benefits of Mentoring Benefits to Mentors: Mentors perceive the experience of being identified as a mentor and the process of mentoring in highly positive terms. They report that their experiences provided them with a form of "cultural capital," that helped them to make sense of their own past (sometimes difficult) experiences and current challenges; gain insight into the day-today lives of youth and develop positive, more reciprocal relationships with youth. A survey conducted by The Commonwealth Fund found: o Three-quarters of the mentors surveyed reported that their experience had had a "very positive" effect on their lives. They felt that mentoring provided a break from their busy professional lives and a chance to give something back. o Eighty-three percent indicated that they learned or gained something personally from their mentoring experience, including feeling that they were a better person, increased patience, friendship, a feeling of effectiveness and a chance to acquire skills. Benefits to Mentees: Support for education. Mentors help keep students in school. Students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters). Mentors help with homework and can improve academic skills. Support with day-to-day living. Mentors help improve a young person's self-esteem, providing support for students trying to think through new challenges. Youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters). Mentors teach young people how to relate well to all kinds of people and help young people strengthen their communication skills. Support in the workplace. Mentors help young people set career goals and take steps to realize them. Through personal contacts, mentors can help young people meet industry professionals, find internships and locate job possibilities. Mentors can help their mentees learn how to seek and keep jobs. (Adapted from MENTOR/The National Mentoring Partnership website corner)

5 Did You Know Mentored young people are 46% less likely to get involved with drugs. (Source: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America) 59% improve their grades (Source: Career Beginnings) 86% went on to higher education (Source: Proctor & Gamble) 80% of youth involved in the juvenile detention system who received a mentor did not return to that system (Source: Prison Fellowship) Mentoring is a bridge. Thousands of children in our communities are eager to connect with adults who are willing to listen and be available to them. There are many options and opportunities in mentoring. In fact, mentoring is one of the most powerful ways to combat the gaps (generational, racial, cultural, financial) between people in our society. MENTORING WORKS FOR ALL OF US!