Aspire, Achieve, Empower:

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Aspire, Achieve, Empower

• First National Conference on Mentoring for Youth
  with Disabilities
• Workshop Successful Inclusion Models in Rural
  Areas

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Workshop Objectives

• To provide participants with
• An overview of 3 successful mentoring program
  models for youth/young adults with disabilities
• Replicable practices from both young, grassroots
  organizations and seasoned mentoring programs

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Workshop Outline

• Introduction
• Overview Maine
• Ethels Tree of Life
• Overview- New Hampshire
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast
• 5 minute break
• Panel presentation/discussion

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• www.mainementoring.org

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Mission

• To Promote, Advocate for, Foster and Support
  Child and Youth Mentoring Programs throughout
  Maine

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MMPs Primary Role

• To increase the number of formal mentoring
  relationships available to Maines children and
  youth through 6 Key Result Areas

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Six Key Result Areas

• Resource development distribution
• Mentor recruitment referral
• Technical assistance training
• Public awareness
• Public policy
• Data collection tracking

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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
• (Source MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership,
  2003)

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Mentoring youth with disabilities in Maine

• Prior to 2003, only 1 program had a specific
  mission to mentor youth with disabilities.
• Since 2003, with US Dept. of Labor Office of
  Disability Employment Policy funds, 4 additional
  programs have developed. To date they have served
  over 200 youth ages 16-24.

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Demographics, in brief

• Miles from southern to northern tip of Maine 419
• Miles east to west 271
• Maine population 1,305,728 (just 69,000 more
  than San Antonio, TX.)
• 121,084 children/youth ages 18-24
• 37,573 students with disabilities, 3-21

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Ethels Tree of Life

• Serves the southernmost areas of ME, where
  transition services lacked
• Combines 11 (adult to youth) mentoring with
  team/group support
• Executive Director Linda Higgins is here today
  with program participants
• Nathan Adams
• Lisa Johnson

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Youth Mentors, Inc.

• Serves western/central Maine through the Region V
  Advisory Council on Transition
• Supports customized mentoring in 12 high schools
  in 3 counties
• Offers 11 peer mentoring with support from
  on-site adult anchors
• Monthly large group activities

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Youth Mentors, Inc.

• Buy-in from superintendents, principals, special
  ed., alternative ed.
• Customized mentoring at each school site leads to
  change in school culture
• Monthly activities rotate site to site, agenda
  created by peer mentors
• 06/07 school year, mentoring will earn service
  learning credit, or be written into IEP

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Downeast Youth Leadership

• Eastern/Coastal ME Downeast Regional Transition
  Board
• Offers 11 peer mentoring with support from
  on-site adult anchors
• Large geographic service area, strong connection
  with One Stop system
• Highest concentration of students w/
  disabilities, 2nd highest level of poverty

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Downeast Youth Leadership

• Strong transition partnership with Youth Mentors,
  Inc.
• Developing interactive workshop using The 411 on
  Disability Disclosure workbook.
• Has recruited new mentors for youth whove
  transitioned to new college community after high
  school

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Youth Outreach Ministries

• Small faith-based organization in western Maine.
• Operates an after-school drop-in center for
  teens.
• Partnered with local Big Brothers Big Sisters
  organization.
• Matches youth 11 with caring adults from the
  community.

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Youth Outreach Ministries

• Book club with mentors mentees
• Career/life portfolio development
• BBBS extended its maximum age
• Friday evening Teen Church is an option offered
  to all youth

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Each program includes these core practices

• Adherence to nationally accepted standards for
  safe/effective mentoring
• Formal mentor/mentee matching
• Focus on future goals and career aspirations
• Self-advocacy leadership skills

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And

• Programs/individuals recognize the value of
  mentoring as a key strategy to helping ALL youth
  succeed

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Program successes

• Increased statewide awareness
• Increased connection of youth to the One Stop
  system
• Implementation of best practices
• Broadened peer network for youth served
• Informal coalition of grant-funded programs

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Program challenges

• Funding!
• Partner buy-in
• Transportation
• Staying connected beyond transition
• Release of information
• Recruitment of mentors
• Multiple learning styles

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Lessons Learned

• The implementation of nationally accepted
  standards of safe and effective mentoring
  practices IS AS IMPORTANT AS WE BELIEVED IT WOULD
  BE!

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Lessons learned

• Communication is KEY
• Mentees/mentors
• Parents/guardians
• School staff administration
• Community partners, One Stop providers
• A personal ask is the most successful way to
  recruit new mentors mentees

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Lessons Learned

• Stay connected!
• State mentoring partnership provides vital links
  and advocacy
• Regionally, locally
• Nationally
• January is National Mentoring Month
• Disability Mentoring Day Oct. 18

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Insert here

• Lindas slides
• Debs slides
• Pegs slides

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Handouts included

• Presenters contact info
• Selected web resources
• Program specific information
• Mentoring stories quotes

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(My mentor) also helps me think about what I can
do when I graduate. We visited an art museum and
an art college in Portland. I didnt think I
could go to college before because I am in
special ed. Now I think I could go a little at a
time.Lisa, mentee, Ethels Tree of Life
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Our confidence in each other, our abilities and
friendship has grown because of the mentor
program.Kala, high school peer mentor, Youth
Mentors, Inc.
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The Thursdaymentoring group has benefited
those involved because they have had the benefit
of all the mentors and mentees coming together
every week. I have seen a real bonding taking
place among the youth and the mentors as well. I
have also been impressed with the mentors being
faithful and looking forward to coming...every
week. Bert Rugg, Executive Director, Youth
Outreach Ministries
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Transitioning from school activities to larger
community activities has been easier because of
the mentor program. Because of the group
activities and peer to peer mentor program, my
confidence in social settings has
grown.Nathan, high school peer mentor, Youth
Mentors, Inc.
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My mentee has become more self assured since we
began our Mentor/ Mentee relationship. He is able
to speak more comfortably in public, express his
feelings, comment on likes and dislikes, and is
better able to speak up for himself He now
has a peer mentee and makes every effort to
include his mentee in activities.Linda
Higgins, Executive Director, Ethels Tree of Life
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The mentor program has taught me how to handle
myself in many different situations. I feel more
comfortable in large groups. I am very happy with
the new skills and the success I am experiencing
because of the mentor program.Triston, high
school peer mentor, Youth Mentors, Inc. program
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A question to ponder

• Who is/was a mentor in your life, and what is it
  about your relationship with that person that has
  made a difference in your life?