Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024
The commission has established standards to certify youth
mentoring programs. These standards are based on the Elements of Effective
Practice for MentoringTM, published by the National
Mentoring Partnership. These elements are based on the work of a panel of
experts convened by the National Mentoring Partnership to produce a set of
rigorous mentoring guidelines, providing the gold standard for quality
mentoring for more than a decade.
(1)
Statement of purpose. The mentoring program should have a
statement of purpose and a long-range plan that includes:
a. Who, what, where, when, why, and how
activities will be performed.
b.
Input from originators, staff, funders, potential volunteers, and
participants.
c. Assessment of
community need.
d. Realistic,
attainable, and easy-to-understand operational plan.
e. Funding and resource development plan. /
Risk management plan.
(2)
Recruitment plan. The
mentoring program shall have recruitment plans for both mentors and
participants that include:
a. Strategies that
portray accurate expectations and benefits.
b. Year-round marketing and public relations
strategies.
c. Targeted outreach
based on participants' needs.
d.
Volunteer opportunities beyond mentoring.
e. A goal of serving at least 12 youth,
computed as an average of the number of youth served over the preceding three
program years.
(3)
Orientation. The mentoring program shall have an orientation
for mentors and mentees that includes:
a.
Program overview.
b. Description of
eligibility, screening process, and suitability requirements.
c. Level of commitment expected (time,
energy, flexibility).
d.
Expectations and restrictions (accountability).
e. Expected benefits and rewards of the
program.
f.A separate focus for
potential mentors and participants.
g. A summary of program policies, including
but not limited to policies on written reports, interviews, evaluations, and
reimbursement.
h. Definition of
appropriate and inappropriate contact, and a statement that informs mentees and
parents/guardians on how to report inappropriate contact.
(4)
Eligibility. The
mentoring program shall have eligibility screening for mentors and participants
that includes:
a. A written application and
review process.
b. A face-to-face
interview and, for community-based programs, a home visit.
c. Reference checks for mentors, which may
include character references, a child abuse registry check, a driving record
check, and a criminal record check as legally permissible.
d. Suitability criteria that relate to the
program's statement of purpose and needs of the target population. Criteria may
include some or all of the following: personality profile, skills
identification, gender, age, language, racial requirements, level of education,
career interests, motivation for volunteering, and academic standing.
e. Successful completion of prematch training
and orientation.
(5)
Training curriculum. The mentoring program shall have a
readiness and training curriculum for all mentors and participants that
includes:
a. Knowledgeable trainers.
b. Orientation to the program and resource
network, including information and referral, other support services, and
schools.
c. Skills development as
appropriate.
d. Cultural/heritage
sensitivity and appreciation training.
e. Guidelines for participants on how to get
the most out of the mentoring relationship.
f. Dos and don'ts of relationship
management.
g. Job and role
descriptions.
h. Confidentiality
and liability information.
i.
Crisis management/problem-solving resources.
j. Communications skills
development.
k. Ongoing sessions as
necessary.
l. Information on what
is considered inappropriate contact and what to do if such contact
occurs.
m. Information regarding
safe meeting spaces and meeting place guidelines and restrictions.
(6)
Matching
strategy. The mentoring program should have a matching strategy that
includes:
a.
A commitment to
consistency.
b. A grounding in the
program's eligibility criteria.
c.
Appropriate criteria for matches, including some or all of the following:
gender, age, language requirements, availability, needs, interests, preferences
of volunteer and participant, life experience, and temperament.
d. Staff assistance with the first
meeting.
(7)
Monitoring process. The mentoring program should have a
monitoring process that includes:
a.
Consistent, scheduled meetings with staff, mentors, and participants.
b. A tracking system for ongoing
assessment.
c. Written
records.
d. Input from community
partners, family, and significant others.
e. A process for managing grievances, praise,
rematching, interpersonal problem solving, and premature relationship
closure.
(8)
Mentor support and recognition. The mentoring program should
have a support, recognition, and retention component that includes:
a. Ongoing peer support groups for
volunteers, participants, and others.
b. Ongoing training and
development.
c. Relevant discussion
of issues and dissemination of information.
d. Regular mentor recognition and
appreciation.
(9)
Closure. The mentoring program should have closure steps that
include:
a. Private and confidential exit
interviews regarding the mentoring relationship between:
(1) Participant and staff;
(2) Mentor and staff; and
(3) Program staff and teachers or parents or
both, as appropriate.
b.
Clearly stated policy for future contacts.
c. Assistance to participants in defining
future steps for achieving personal goals.
(10)
Evaluation. The
mentoring program should have an evaluation process based on:
a. Outcome analysis of the program and
mentoring relationships.
b. Program
criteria and statement of purpose.
c. Informational needs of board, funders,
community partners, and other supporters of the program.
(11)
Additional certification
standards. The commission also utilizes the Elements of Effective
Practice for Mentoring", published by the National Mentoring Partnership, to
determine the primary areas of review for mentoring program certification.
These areas are intended to indicate whether programs are operating under the
quality policies and procedures established by a national panel of mentoring
program experts, researchers and others.
a.
History of operation. Mentoring programs shall have an
established history of operation of two years (24 months). Programs that have
been operating less than 24 months may be granted full certification but will
be required to provide quarterly updates to the Iowa mentoring
partnership.
b.
Length of
match. Mentoring programs shall meet minimum requirements for length
of match based on program type.
(1)
Community-based programs, including E-mentoring programs, shall establish an
initial commitment of one year with new or potential mentors.
(2) School-based programs, including
E-mentoring programs, shall establish an initial commitment of nine months with
new or potential mentors.
c.
Minimum monthly contact.
Mentoring programs shall meet minimum requirements for monthly contact based on
program type.
(1) Matches in community-based
programs shall meet for a minimum of four hours per month with a consistent
schedule.
(2) School-based programs
shall meet for a minimum of two hours per month with a consistent
schedule.
(3) E-mentoring programs
shall have contact via secure, supervised e-mail a minimum of once per
week.
d.
Background checks. Mentoring programs shall meet minimum requirements
for checking the background of mentor applicants.
(1) Criminal background and sex offender
registry checks for mentors over the age of 18.
(2) Reference checks for mentors under the
age of 18.
e.
Pre-match mentor training. Mentoring programs shall meet minimum
requirements for training of mentors. At least two hours of pre-match training
and preparation activities shall be provided to new mentors.
