Virginia Service

join service network

Local Navigation

Virginia Volunteer

• Faith-Based Community Initiative
• Governor's Volunteerism Awards
  • 2008 Award Recipients
  • Award Categories
  • Award Recipient Archive
  • Nomination FAQ
  • Photo Gallery
• Homeland Security
• Mentoring
• Volunteer Centers
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteer Profiles
• Volunteer Statistics
• Volunteering Benefits
• Volunteerism Conference

Of Interest

• The International Journal of Volunteer Administration
• Ready Virginia
• Virginia Citizen Corps
• Citizen Corps
• 1-800-volunteer

Home > Volunteer Virginia > Make a Difference in the Life of a Child – Be a Mentor

Make a Difference in the Life of a Child – Be a Mentor

Quick Links
- How to be a successful mentor
- Mentoring program tips
- Get involved

You can have a direct and lasting impact on the life of a young person. Mentoring transforms children’s lives by boosting confidence, improving grades and diminishing drug and alcohol use. By believing in a young person, you can change the course of their life forever.

The Virginia Mentoring Partnership

In March 1993, Virginia Mentoring Partnership (VMP) became part of MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership. The National Mentoring Partnership is a national nonprofit organization that helps mobilize cities to increase mentoring programs. VMP's vision is for every child in Virginia to have a relationship with a caring adult - a mentor.
 
"The possibilities are endless for youth who receive the guidance and support mentors can provide." Jennifer J. S. Slabaugh, Executive Director, Virginia Mentoring Partnership

How to be a Successful Mentor

• Focus on establishing a bond, a feeling of attachment, a sense of equality, and the mutual enjoyment of shared time.
• Developing a trusting relationship takes time and patience. Focus on your mentees overall development
• Give you mentee a voice and a choice in deciding on activities. Create an "idea file" together, listing all the activities you would like to do together.
• Be positive by offering expressions of confidence such as "Great Job," "You are really good at this," and "You can do it."
• Listen – when you listen, your mentee can see that you are a friend, not an authority figure.
• Be committed – You are building a trusting relationship. Respect the trust your mentee places in you.

* from the National Mentoring Center article on "Building Relationships"

Tips for Mentoring Programs

• First, conduct an assessment of local needs and the assets your organization already has to meet them (from NMP – "Elements of Effective Practice").
• Develop a strong policy for screening potential mentors and mentees. (Contact Virginia Mentoring Partnership to find out effective screening policies and practices.)
• Track and document all elements of your program.
• Mentors and mentees should meet regularly at least four hours per month for at least a year – minimum.
• Develop a plan to measure your success. Measure your expected outcomes. (Tools for evaluating your program, as well as program design and implementation assistance are available from Virginia Mentoring Partnership.)

Get Involved Now!

Call 804-828-1536 or visit the Virginia Mentoring Partnership for more information about:

• Scheduling a mentoring or tutoring training session
• Names of specific mentoring programs in your area
• How to be a volunteer mentor
• How to develop a mentoring program
• General mentoring information

Be sure to thank mentors in your community. Please visit Who Mentored You? to learn more.