"Mentoring Works" Summit

Breakout Sessions

You will be able to select one session per Breakout Session during the registration process.

Breakout Session 1 (9:00am-9:45am)

Using the Elements of Effective Practice to Create Solid Programs

This session will provide an overview of the Elements of Effective Practice, created by MENTOR, the National Mentoring Partnership, which includes six evidence-based standards addressing mentor and mentee recruitment; screening; training; matching; monitoring and support; and closure. Participants will learn strategies and practical advice in building a new mentoring program or strengthening an existing one, focusing on program design and planning; program management; and program evaluation. Special Guest Presenter, Andrea Taylor, serves on MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership's Research and Policy Council and helped create the 3rd edition of the Elements. Recommended for Program Practitioners.

Starting a High School Cross-Age Mentoring Program

This session will explore how Elementary schools and high schools can partner to create a sustainable mentoring program. A step-by-step model of what it takes to establish a program will be presented. Learn what supports are necessary to get high school students involved with your mentoring program and the unique set of circumstances that arise when working with high school students. Recommended for Program Practitioners. Presented by Tara Kester Wiggins, Creative Mentoring Program Specialist, and Iazia Jones McTeer, AmeriCorps Program Director.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

An overview of Sean Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, which is a step-by-step guide to help teens improve self-image, build relationships, resist peer pressure, achieve goals, get along with their parents, and much more. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Kathy BinYusif, Talent Development Coordinator for the Appoquinimink School District, and Beverli Simms-Jackson, Creative Mentoring Trainer and Seasons of Respect Facilitator.

Character Building Activities for Kids

Mentoring is a great way to help build and grow your mentee's character. Learn tips and tools to help your mentee develop a sense of honesty, loyalty, making and keeping promises, putting forth best effort, learning to be compassionate, taking initiative and beyond. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Marie McIntosh, Creative Mentoring Trainer.

Math for Mentors

Participants will take part in exciting math activities that students can actively participate in and not realize they are learning while having fun. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Kathy Rozumalski, Elementary Math Specialist, Capital School District.

Diversity

Cultural differences can create a stumbling block towards building a healthy relationship with your mentee. This session will explore ways to help you bridge the cultural gap, and develop your sense of cultural appreciation. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Hope Kananen, Guidance Counselor, Silver Lake Elementary.

Break-Out Session 2 (10:00am-10:45am)

Parent Involvement in Youth Mentoring: The Good News and the Bad News

The research on parent involvement in youth mentoring is both scant and contradictory. This session will provide an overview of the current research and a conversation about "best practices" from a practitioner's "on the ground" experience. Recommended for Program Practitioners. Special Guest Presenter, Andrea Taylor, serves on MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership's Research and Policy Council and helped create the 3rd edition of the Elements. Recommended for Program Practitioners.

Recruiting Mentors in your Community and in Local Businesses.

This working session will help new and existing mentoring coordinators focus efforts to recruit the "right" mentors. Participants will work through a strategies as well as learn from the best practices when recruiting a business. Recommended for Program Practitioners. Presented by Rachel Markowitz, Program Director, Creative Mentoring, and Stacey Altemus, Board Chair, Connecting Generations.

Connecting Generations AmeriCorps Youth Ambassadors Program

The Corporation for National and Community Service has awarded Connecting Generations, in partnership with Communities in Schools, a grant to place AmeriCorps Members in schools to serve as Mentor Coordinators. In addition, the Youth Ambassadors will implement Integrated Student Services for the students being mentored. 10 AmeriCorps members have been placed in schools in Wilmington and Dover. It is envisioned that 15 members will be placed during the 2012-13 school year. Find out more about AmeriCorps, the domestic Peace Corps, and how this program could benefit your school/after-school program. Recommended for Program Practitioners or Administrators. Presented by Rich Kapolka, Executive Director, Connecting Generations, and Iazia McTeer, AmeriCorps Program Director, and Jim Purcell, Communities in Schools of Delaware.

Helping your Mentee Build Respectful Friendships

Is your mentee struggling with building healthy friendships with his or her peers? This session will examine the meaning of friendship. With a focus on the role of respect in building healthy friendships, this session will look at steps to help your mentee be a good friend to others. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Diane Simon, Seasons of Respect Facilitator.

Supporting your Mentee with Love and Logic

Learn how to correct negative behaviors without being negative through this interactive session that will look at strategies to focus on getting your mentee to take ownership of his or her mistakes and learn from them. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Hope Kananen, Guidance Counselor, Silver Lake Elementary.

Beyond Stress: Encouraging Good Mental Health

We all encounter stress in our lives. Whether we're old or young, rich or poor, stress does not discriminate. But how do we, as mentors, recognize when we or someone we care about, like our mentees, has too much stress, and how can we cope? This session will give some basic, down to earth answers to these common questions. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Jennifer Seo, the Suicide Prevention Specialist, the Mental Health Association in Delaware.

Battling Bullying

In this session, learn how to help prevent negative effects of bullying and other disrespectful behavior between youth by showing your mentee the importance of respect. A lack of respectful behavior can lead to disruption in society and prevents children from taking advantage of many opportunities which can help them become confident, caring, contributing citizens. In this session you will be taught a few tips, tools and activities to encourage respect. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Beverli Simms-Jackson, Creative Mentoring Trainer and Seasons of Respect Facilitator.

Break-Out Session 3 (11:00am-11:45am)

Using Research in Your Program

Mentoring Works! However, sometimes it is hard to show the results. Learn about some of the national data that you can use to help show the effectiveness of your local program. Explore how to implement some of the recommendations from national experts to make your program more effective. This session will also explore some evaluation tools that you can use to gather your own data. Recommended for Program Practitioners. Presented by Rachel Markowitz, Program Director, Creative Mentoring.

Getting your Administration and Teachers' Support

Are you struggling with getting your staff to support your mentoring program? Do you have the full support of your building administrator? This session will provide some practical advice to help drum up support for your mentoring program. Recommended for Program Practitioners and Administrators. Presented by Rich Kapolka, Executive Director, Connecting Generations, and Marie McIntosh, Creative Mentoring Trainer.

Understanding Mental Illness

This workshop will help participants better understand how to recognize the warning signs in youth for depression, self-inflicted injuries or suicide. It will also offer resources that a child at risk can be connected to, and information on how to talk to a child about these difficult topics. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Emily Vera, Project Director, the Mental Health Association in Delaware.

Reading with your Mentee

Learn the best way to help your mentee with reading from the experts. "The single most important activity for building the knowledge required or eventual success in reading, is reading aloud to children---even when they are very young." On Becoming a Nation of Readers: The Report on the Commission on Reading. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Patty Kapolka, Reading Specialist, Capital School District.

Building Better Relationships Through Active Listening

This session will not only help you improve your listening skills, but will also help you develop better communication with your mentee. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about how to help your mentee develop better listening skills as well. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Diane Simon, Seasons of Respect Facilitator.

Mentor Round Table

This interactive session will give mentors a chance to talk with other mentors about successes and challenges. Additional training needs for veteran mentors will also be discussed. Recommended for Mentors. Presented by Joyce Fangman, Creative Mentoring Trainer.