Connect 2.0 mentoring program utilizes the six evidence-based standards identified in the "Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoringtm." Each Standard includes benchmarks to ensure the safety and effectiveness of mentoring relationships, as well as enhancements that may be promising, innovative and useful.
Recruiting
Recruitment
Recruitment focuses on recruiting appropriate mentors and mentees, by realistically describing the program’s objectives and expected outcomes. Recruitment strategies should build positive attitudes and emotions about mentoring, and target mentors and mentees whose skills, backgrounds, and needs best match the goals and structure of the program.
Screening
Screening
Screening focuses on screening prospective mentors to determine whether they have the time, commitment, and personal qualities to be a safe and effective mentor; and screening prospective mentees to determine if they have the time, commitment, and desire to be effectively mentored. Screening emphasizes keeping participants, especially young people, safe in mentoring relationships.
Training
Training
Training is essential to the success of a mentoring program. Training focuses on ensuring that prospective mentors, mentees, and their parents or guardians have the basic knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to build a safe and effective relationship. Training of mentors, particularly, has documented implications for the length of match relationship as well as both parties’ perceptions of the quality of the relationship.
Matching & Initiating
Matching & Initiating
Matching helps create appropriate mentoring relationships by using strategies most likely to increase the odds that the relationship will be safe and effective. Matching should consider individual characteristics about the mentor and mentee in order to foster an enduring relationship. Initiating is the step that formally establishes the mentoring relationship.
Monitoring & Support
Monitoring & Support
Monitoring and support is critical to mentoring not only to create satisfying and successful relationships, but also to adjust to changing needs of the mentee and mentor, and to ensure safety. Support ensures ongoing advice, problem-solving, training, and access to resources for the duration of a mentoring relationship.
Closure
Closure
Bringing a mentoring relationship to closure in a way that affirms the contributions of both the mentor and the mentee is essential to ensuring the relationship ends with positive consequences for the mentee. Closure is a normal stage in a mentoring relationship and mentors and mentees should be able to prepare for closure and assess their experience with the relationship.
With Connect 2.0 peers are connected with volunteers who mentor and work with them one-on-one over a period of time.
Mentors help mentees
Mentors help mentees define and meet goals to:
- Develop lifestyle and behavior skills
- Connect with community resources
- Improve their health outcomes
- Nurture and support their mentor relationship
- Mentors build committed, trusting relationships. They listen. They offer understanding and respect. They help individuals overcome challenges and disappointments and celebrate successes.
Mentor role
- Mentor, coach and guide mentee on being active and healthy.
- Become positive lifestyle role model for children, adolescents and teens of mentee family (if applicable).
- Regular follow up on lifestyle change progress.
Mentee role
Mentee Role
- Must agree to participate in the lifestyle and behavior change process.
- Must actively participate in creating a lifestyle action plan.
- Participate in a minimum of 3 - 6 months of activity/meeting/discussions with mentor.
- Actively and positively engage in the relationship with mentor.
- Must actively engage own family in the lifestyle change process (if applicable).
- Respond to regular follow ups with mentor.
Parental role (if applicable)
Parental Role (if applicable)