Tell
me more about Participating as Mentor or Mentee
The Mentor Program involves matching a service provider (mentee) who
works in a Children's Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) with another
service provider or family member (mentor) with 4 or more years experience
in this area. The mentee is responsible for choosing the mentor who
will best match his or her needs. The mentee will receive assistance
from the Mentor Program in finding potential mentors and establishing
a mentoring relationship. Mentors are matched up with only one mentee
at a time.
The program is designed to be individualized and flexible. The mentees
and their mentor decide together the goals they will establish for
their relationship. Together they also decide how the goals will be
achieve (i.e. on-site observation, review of current articles, demonstration
of performing a skill, visiting an assistive technology center, brainstorming
intervention strategies for children on the mentee's caseload, etc.)
Each pair can meet for up to 20 hours within a 12-month
period.
Orientation
and Creating an Action Plan
Once a mentor and mentee have agreed that they would like to establish a mentorship; the mentor, mentee, and Mentor Program coordinator will set a time to meet for an informal orientation. At the orientation session, the mentee and mentor will have the opportunity to meet each other, learn more about the Mentor Program, and create an Action Plan for their relationship. The mentorship action plan outlines the goals and objectives of the mentorship. These goals are individualized and specific to the needs of the mentee. The plan can be flexible as well. The goals are established to guide learning rather than to restrict it.
Reflection
Logs
To truly benefit from the learning that takes place in a mentorship session, both the mentee and mentor take a step back and reflect on that session by completing a reflection log after each session. The one page reflection log should be submitted within a week following each mentorship session. The reflection logs provide a structure and routine of asking: What did we do today and why? How can I use what I learned today with the kids I serve? What could have made this session even more successful? These logs also keep the mentor program up-to-date on the progress and are used to tabulate the hours spent together in the mentoring relationship.
Reviewing
Progress
The
action plan is used as a baseline for learning and will be used as
an evaluation tool midpoint through the mentorship and at the end.
At this time, both the mentor and mentee will have the opportunity
to reflect on their progress toward achieving their goals.
Earning
Professional Credits
In
addition to the numerous perks associated with mentorship such as
enhancing knowledge, skills, and confidence; mentees and mentors can
also earn professional development credits! Mentors and mentees can
earn contact hours, Infant, Toddler, Family credits, and Continuing
Education Units (CEUs) for their participation.
