Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: child/adult mentor program?

[Rick Gravrok (rick.gravrok]

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Rick Gravrok


On Sun, Nov 17, 2013 at 11:35 PM, KJ <pumpkin2282 [at] yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> You really need to consult with someone who is already doing this. Perhaps
> a church group with an established mentor ship program, or someone with Big
> Brothers, Big sisters.  Do you know the National Mentoring Center is
> headquartered in Portland? Here's a good "getting started" PDF.
>
>
> http://www.iyi.org/resources/mentor/pdf/mentoring%20program%20start-up%20tool%20kit.pdf
>
> They will be able to give you lots of advice like how to structure your
> time together, how much should be facilitated, where its safe to take kids
> and where it's not, how to match up mentors with kids(ie based on gender?
> Shared interests? Age difference?)  legal liability issues involved, etc.
> (to keep both kids safe from a us and adults safe from false claims of
> abuse).  How to manage expectations (so mentors/mentees & parents are on
> the same page).
>
> Also you'd need to have at least 1 administrator, so participants can come
> to them if they are having issues with their mentor/mentee, as well as to
> follow up, plan group mentor ship activities, communicate with the rest of
> the ecovillage about available mentors/mentees.  You should also seek
> regular feedback from both parties, to improve your mentorships,
> communication, and entire program.  Some advice in conflict resolution
> would be good - you already have this experience within the larger
> cohousing village, but within the smaller group you'd need more specific
> instruction, some of which is age-appropriate.
>
> PSUhad a youth mentoring conference last summer, speaker videos here:
>
> http://www.pdx.edu/youth-mentoring/innovative-and-non-traditional-models-of-youth-mentoring
>
> Some mentoring orgs will help you get started- some times even for free if
> you're a NFP.
>
> Here is a great PDF with some FAQs regarding youth mentorships:
>
> https://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/files/legacy/filemanager/download/mentoring/mentoring_faqs.pdf
>
> Www.mentoring.org has some good resources
>
> Best of luck!
>
> Kj
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Nov 17, 2013, at 10:11 PM, Joey Kimdon <jkimdon [at] gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > Many kids are interested in the vague idea. It remains to be seen how
> > reality will pan out though. :-)
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Nov 17, 2013 at 2:43 PM, Diana Carroll <dianaecarroll [at] gmail.com
> >wrote:
> >
> >> Have the kids expressed interest in this?
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sat, Nov 16, 2013 at 6:59 PM, Joey Kimdon <jkimdon [at] gmail.com> 
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Hi all,
> >>>
> >>> Several of us in our community would like to establish a child/adult
> >>> mentor
> >>> program, and we were wondering if any other communities would be
> willing
> >>> to
> >>> share their experiences.
> >>>
> >>> One of our main goals is to deepen the connections between children and
> >>> adults who are not their parents. We're hoping these special
> connections
> >>> will give the kids many people they're comfortable talking to as they
> are
> >>> going through life's challenges, as well as enrich both parties' lives
> as
> >>> they share their special talents, interests, and personalities. We also
> >>> see
> >>> it as a way to keep the kids connected to and interested in the
> community
> >>> as they grow older.
> >>>
> >>> We already have many rich child/adult interactions, informal
> activities,
> >>> special friendships, and a kids club where adults can share activities
> >>> with
> >>> the kids. However, we're looking to have a more formal program in
> order to
> >>> include more of the less-outgoing people, to encourage more one-on-one
> >>> time, to help people find ways to fit this type of connection into
> their
> >>> schedules, and to give an almost family/grandparent-type of commitment
> >>> that
> >>> the kids (and adults) can count on over many many years.
> >>>
> >>> Our current thoughts are to have some rotating one-on-one mentorships
> >>> (maybe 6 months long?) starting as soon as the kids are interested and
> >>> continuing until adulthood, fostering many different relationships.
> Then
> >>> in
> >>> addition, as part of a coming-of-age ritual (around 12 yrs old), having
> >>> the
> >>> child and an adult find each other for an enduring (non-rotating),
> deeper
> >>> mentorship. The shorter mentorships could help the children and adults
> >>> figure out who they want for their long mentor and could continue even
> >>> during the longer mentorship.
> >>>
> >>> Does anyone have any experiences they'd like to share that could help
> us
> >>> as
> >>> we are developing this idea? Or can you point me to some archived
> posts? I
> >>> did a quick search in the archives, but didn't find the right search
> terms
> >>> to come up with anything.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks,
> >>> Joey
> >>> (from CoHo Ecovillage in Corvallis, OR)
> >>> _________________________________________________________________
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> >
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-- 
Rick Gravrok
St. Louis Park, MN