North Carolina Migrant Education Program

Mentor Training 2015

Jessica Ornat

Anastacio Basabe

Goals for this Training:• To become skilled at developing caring

mentoring relationships• To learn about the challenges and

barriers that your mentees faceTo become more sensitive to those

challenges & their effect on your mentees

• To gain confidence in your ability to make a difference in the lives of your mentees

Program Overview• What is the Migrant Education Program?

Who, where, and how do we serve?

• What is the Mentoring Program?Our mission and goalsWhy become a Mentor?Your Responsibilities and Expectations as a

MentorProgram Policies and ProceduresWhat-if scenarios/role playNext Steps!

What is the Migrant Education Program?

Our Mission: To help migrant students and youth meet high academic challenges by overcoming the obstacles created by frequent moves, educational disruption, cultural and language differences, and health-related problems.

What is the Migrant Education Program?

History of the Migrant Education Program (MEP)

Who do we serve?o Participants aged 3-21o Have not yet received a high school diploma or its equivalento Have moved into a school district within the last 36 months

(3 years)o Whose parents, guardians, spouses, or selves have moved

due to economic necessity to obtain or seek work in agricultural production or fisheries.

o Out of School Youth (OSY): These are eligible migrant students who have left formal schooling before graduating from high school. They are often difficult to serve because, despite their academic goals and aspirations, they often have to work long hours. 30 – 40 % of migratory students are OSY.

Out of School Youth

13%

87%

Gender

female

male

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 220

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1 218

33

106

147

180 173

2

Age

Total

Out of School Youth

5%

27%

3%

65%

English Language Pro-ficiency

Advanced

Beginner

Intermediate

Pre-Be-ginner

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 120

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Last Grade Attended

Total

Identify and recruit migrant students

Provide high quality supplemental and support services

Foster coordination among schools, agencies, organizations, and businesses to assist migrant families

Collaborate with other

states to enhance the continuity of education for migrant students

Our current projects include:

ESL classesFamily literacy workshops

Mentor Program

How do we serve?

Let’s brainstorm barriers to education

Issues that farm workers and their families face:

• Constant relocation for work

• Lack of transportation

• Language and cultural differences

• Immigration status Reminder: Don’t ask about documentation/immigration status

• Lack of access to education

• Lack of information about the US Education system

• Fear of judgment and different treatment due to differences, occupation

• Need to work with hardly any down time

• Personal limitations brought on by situation (e.g.. Pregnancy, drug abuse, etc.)

Mentoring Program MissionThe mission of the Mentoring Program is

to be a resource for migrant youth to help them meet their academic/educational goals & needs

Other goals for the program:o Establish a positive personal relationship

with an adult outside of their familyo Help young people develop life skillso Assist with access to educational resourceso Increase awareness of & ability to interact

with other social & cultural groups

MENTORING VIDEO

What is a Mentor?• A mentor's main purpose is to help a young person

define individual, personal goals and find practical ways to achieve them.

• The mentor's job is to encourage the development of a flexible relationship that responds to both the mentor's and the young person's needs. 

• A mentor is a caring, adult friend who devotes time to a young person.

• All mentors have the same goal in common: to help young people achieve their potential and discover their strengths.

What is a Mentor?Mentors are not meant to replace a

parent, guardian or teacher. A mentor is not a disciplinarian or

decision maker for a child.Instead, a mentor echoes the positive

values and cultural heritage parents and guardians are teaching.

Qualities of a Successful Mentor• Personal commitment to be involved with

another person for an extended amount of time• Respect for individuals, their abilities and their

right to make their own choices in life• Ability to listen and to accept different points

of view• Ability to empathize with another person’s

struggles• Ability to see solutions and opportunities as

well as barriers• Flexible and open

Tasks of the Mentor1. Establish a positive personal relationship

Youth participants often gain a sense of self-worth when they recognize that a caring adult other than their parent is willing to invest time & energy in them

2. Help your mentee develop life skills Make a plan for their educational/academic goals Nurture their hobbies and interests

3. Assist with access to educational resources College applications, financial aid, GED, literacy & ESL classes Foster non-academic but still educational hobbies and interests (e.g., art

education, skills and language)

4. Maintain a professional relationship with your Mentee

Communicate in adult, professional, non-demanding, and non-judgmental ways

If your mentee shares anything that could affect their safety, share it with your program coordinators!

Expectations of a MEP Mentor

oCommit ~8-10 hours per month, with reasonable exceptions

oBe flexible if your mentee needs to reschedule or is no longer available when scheduled

oBe professional, honest and matureoOffer constructive and practical suggestionsoBe open, non-judgmental and understandingoSupport and guide your Mentee

Responsibilities of the Mentor Coordinators

Provide Mentors support throughout their mentoring relationship

Offer advice & help when neededSuggestions on what to do with your menteeGeneral information on the area where you will

meet your menteeHelp the mentor if it relationship is not working outFacilitate the end of relationship procedure

It is very important that you let us know if you are not able to continue your mentoring relationship with your mentee

Mentoring Program PoliciesPrivacy- Respect the privacy & time commitments of your Mentee.

Maintain the strictest confidence about what your Mentee says to you. If you sense your mentee is being abused in any manner,

report it!

Communication- It is your responsibility to check in with your Mentee before meeting with them. You are responsible for checking in with your Mentee on a regular basis & maintaining a professional relationship with them at all times.

Liability- Please remember that you should not use your personal vehicle to transport your Mentee. You will be held accountable in adhering to NC state & federal laws regarding adult/youth relationships.

Safety and Security- You should never be alone with your Mentee. Mentoring should take place at the mentee’s school or at home with a parent present or in a public place with others around.

‘What if’ Role Play ActivityPlease gather into groups of 3Each group will be assigned one of the

scenarios listed on page 4 of your handbook Take 5 minutes to discuss how you would

react to the scenario

Act out your scenario & respective responses to the whole group

End of activity discussion & summary

On to the Introduction!Matching of Mentor & Mentee

How long will this take?

Introduction between Mentor & MenteeProvide information about yourselvesExchange contact informationGet to know your Mentee’s education

status/history and what they are interested in so you can begin formulating ideas about what to do/where to go with your Mentee

Ideas of Things to Do…1. Visit a college campus2. Paint, explore the arts, take a music lesson3. Learn/teach computer skills4. Work on GED study skills5. Work on college applications6. Sports/ sporting events7. Go out to eat8. Take a walk9. Visit a museum10.Talk and get to know one another!

Code of EthicsTogether, we will write some guidelines that

you agree to adhere to as volunteers with the MEP Mentoring Program

Questions?