Mentoring Supports Economic Development Family health depends on meeting basic needs. Sadly, poverty increases the risk of mental illness, chronic disease, and mortality. People in poverty are statistically more likely to be involved in the justice system and become a financial burden to society. So, although a child’s wellbeing today is of primary importance, their [...]
Meeting Youth Where They Are If a home’s foundation is ignored, it will never sit properly. Just so, all learning rests upon prior knowledge and experience. Finding out where your mentee is, where they stand, takes time and patience. Ask questions. Make no assumptions. Be observant. Don’t let your own agenda erode the foundation of [...]
Becoming a Better Mentor Last year, the National Mentoring Partnership, published Becoming a Better Mentor. This excellent handbook goes through many elements of improving your mentoring skills and relationship. It’s available for free here: www.mentoring.org/resource/becoming-a-better-mentor/ Chapter 1, Providing Emotional Support and Empathy covers the foundational component of any mentoring relationship – honoring your mentee’s unique feelings [...]
Advanced Mentor Training Self-Care and Regulation Dr. Nan Marquardt will join us to present on a new topic that puts mentors first. She will bring practical tips to help us regulate our own nervous systems, better understand our own needs, and recharge our batteries. When we are functioning well thanks to these practices, our mentees [...]
Self-Care for Kids It’s not too early to start talking with your mentee about how you take care of your body and mind. Some strategies you can explore and model in your mentoring sessions might include: Take a break. Sometimes we need to just chill or find another mellow activity to let the body and [...]
Opportunity to Heal Human beings are social creatures. Relationships are central from day one. Interactions and regular contact with caring people during key developmental windows help shape the brains of infants, toddlers, and children. Lack of positive interactions and regular contact can harm. In Working with Children to Heal Interpersonal Trauma, Christine Ludy-Dobson and Bruce [...]
Promoting Connection Tips Recognize relationships: point out what is happening between you and your mentee. “We’ve been meeting for over six months. What have been some of your favorite moments?” Speak through a parts view: name that more than one thing can be true in any moment. “A part of me is happy that we [...]
Ideas! We got em! Check out your newsletter for: Training and learning opportunities Zip-lining beta Halloween craft teasers Important dates And pics of mentors and students! We have so many ideas for October, they couldn't all fit in the newsletter! Here are two more big ones: Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center's Halloween Coloring Contest! Check out the [...]
Welcome Back! The 2022/2023 school year begins on August 18th! Megan will be in touch with returning school-based mentors and mentees to help schedule meetings. Community-based matches should set up their own sessions; let us know if you need assistance. This will be Grand Area Mentoring’s 18th season of connecting deserving Moab youth with kind [...]
Summertime Opportunities Stay connected over the summer. Plan ahead to meet occasionally, talk on the phone, Zoom, or send mail. Community-based matches have approved sites available to them. We invite school-based matches to meet at HMK during summer lunch. Please complete a log entry after each meeting, available here: https://grandmentoring.org/mentor-log/ Send updates the old-fashioned way! [...]