Mentor Training

The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County provides new mentors with all of the tools they need to start making a difference in a young person’s life. Many potential mentors are hesitant to get involved because they’re not sure they’ll be effective. But, with our complete training program, mentors are able to learn how to relate to kids and build their confidence and ability to be successful in their new roll.

Not only do mentors gain the tools they need to be successful after completion of the training program, they also are given the tools proven to enhance skills and assist in retention. The training is based on the best practices as outlined byMENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership and is proven successful. The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County also maintains a resource library that houses up to date information on mentoring, as well as hosts roundtables with partner agencies to make sure feedback is received and all mentoring needs are being met.

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee.

There are four areas of mentoring:

  • Community-based programs such as YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters
  • Faith-based programs organized and carried out within faith communities
  • School-based programs monitored by a school or district and with academic achievement as a main focus
  • Work-based programs designed to implement basic workplace skills and create postgraduate aspirations

There are five types of mentoring:

  • One-to-one, the traditional model of mentoring where one adult is paired with one young person
  • Team Mentoring, where a group of adults is matched with a group of youth in a structured setting
  • Group Mentoring, where one or two adults mentor to a group of youth through regular meetings or activities
  • Peer Mentoring, where caring youth mentor other youth.
  • Non-traditional Mentoring,where a professional mentor i.e. probation officer that supports a youth over and above their job duties and Therapeutic Alliance, a similar relationship between a professional Therapist and a youth in treatment of some nature.

The Training Program

The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County has launched a state-of-the-art training program for agencies and mentors throughout the community. The Mentoring Collaborative offers Agency Certification as well as mentor training for new mentors signing on with our partner agencies.

The training provided by The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County will ensure that the relationships between the mentors and mentees are successful, positive, and have an impact on both parties.

We provide agencies with technical assistance in design and implementation to ensure successful quality programs using The Elements of Effective Practice tool kit covering:

  • Program Design and Planning
  • Program Management
  • Program Operations
  • Program Evaluation

We train mentors to make a difference by:

  • Connecting with multiple cultures, attitudes and behaviors
  • Instilling confidence in the mentee
  • Establishing positive personal relationships with the mentee
  • Assisting the mentee with the acquisition of life skills
  • Actively engaging the mentee in their school work, as well as their areas of personal interest
  • Increasing the mentee’s ability to interact with alternate social and cultural groups
  • Fulfilling multiple rolls as a coach, confidant, guide, listener, partner, roll model, teacher, visionary and friend

Agency Certification

The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County provides training for agencies that incorporate mentors into their programs. By going through our certification process, agencies will receive the most up-to-date information on “the best practices” in the mentoring world. Agencies that have gone through the certification process will be well equipped to guide a successful mentoring initiative and produce the best results for the kids in their program.

Our certification process covers training in all areas of mentoring – from how to build a mentor-mentee relationship to training mentors to learn how to be the most effective with kids. Click here to learn more or to sign up to be a certified partner agency.

What Does It Mean to Be Certified?

Certified Partners of The Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County are agencies that provide mentoring services and have successfully completed the training process. The benefits to agencies being certified will:

  • Ensure that they are implementing best practices in their mentoring programs.
  • Provide successful partnerships and success for mentees in their programs
  • Ensure that mentor volunteers are screened and pass criminal background checks
  • Allow for agency response and discussion at roundtable sessions
  • Enable agencies to utilize the most current resources regarding issues in mentoring