Every child who needs a mentor
                           should have a mentor.
 




Prepare for National Mentoring Month

Each January, mentoring programs celebrate National Mentoring Month by promoting the benefits of mentoring and recruiting volunteers. 

Is your program planning on participating? If so, MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership has developed the resources to help you start planning early. 

Join MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership for a webinar on November 19th to learn best practices from other programs in the field for amplifying your voice and engaging the community throughout the month. Click here to register.

Can't make it to the webinar? Check out the National Mentoring Month website to access communications toolkits and campaign materials. Stay tuned for more NMM activities and resources from VMP! 



Highlight Your Program in National Campaigns with Mentoring Connector 


Each month, VMP receives dozens of phone calls from community members in Virginia who want to find nearby mentoring opportunities for both mentors and youth seeking mentors. MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership has designed a free database called Mentoring Connector. Registering your program in Mentoring Connector increases your program's visibility and allows potential mentors and mentees in the area to find your program
During National Mentoring Month in January, this database will be prominently featured during national awareness campaigns. Don't miss out on this opportunity for recruitment and public awareness: register with Mentoring Connector today!



Apply for Free Technical Assistance


Are you looking to enhance your mentoring program practices? VMP provides customized consultation to assess and strengthen four key program areas: design, operations, management, and evaluation. VMP serves as the technical assistance provider for the region. This resource is provided by OJJDP and managed by MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership.

In October, OJJDP announced MENTOR as the recipient of the FY15 $1.5 million Training and Technical Assistance grant, enabling free technical assistance through NMRC to continue into 2016. Click here to check out the press release. 

To receive these services at no cost, click here to fill out a request. Questions? Email Director of Programs Rose Marie Wiegandt.



Link to Learning
Mentor and mentee  







Research indicates widespread positive benefits of mentoring relationships. In order to maximize these positive impacts for youth, we may wonder: what makes a "good" mentor?
Check out this article describing the common qualities of "good" mentors that are most likely to positively influence youth.

Want more resources for establishing and maintaining a strong relationship with a mentee? Check out VMP's training schedule.  
 
Happy Fall!

We know autumn is a busy time for many mentoring matches and programs. We hope you are enjoying spending time with your mentees! VMP is here to provide support for all of your mentoring needs.

Halloween is here! If you are planning on going trick-or-treating with your mentee, click here for some helpful tips for a safe and healthy Halloween weekend.



Fall Training Schedule Features New Content

This fall, VMP offered some new training opportunities featuring "content expert" facilitators on topics frequently requested by mentoring program staff. 

In early October, Steve Hixon, MBA, led a training group in discussions about cultural competency. Participants learned how to identify various aspects of culture and integrate cultural knowledge, skills, and abilities into work practice. 

Last week, VMP offices were packed for a session on trauma-informed care, facilitated by Dan LaCroix, LCSW, and Stephanie LaCroix, LCSW. They drew upon their wealth of experience to share with participants the impact of trauma on brain functioning and behaviors, how to recognize and respond to signs of possible trauma, and how to best assist the child and family. 

To keep up to date on VMP's training schedule, click here.
 


Upcoming Trainings:
 
Make sure your program's mentors feel well informed and prepared for any challengesSee our upcoming training schedule here. To request an on-site training for mentors, click here.


The Essentials: Training People who Mentor Young Black Men & Boys
November 5th-6th, 2015

VMP is excited to host a pilot training next week focused on a broader understanding of mentoring young black men and boys. The guiding purpose of the training is to go one step beyond "cultural competence" in order to strengthen practices of those who mentor young black men and boys. By incorporating voices from practitioners and researchers, attendees will be given the tools and knowledge to focus their mentoring approach. This day and a half training session is designed to ensure that these young men and boys have critical socio-emotional supports to excel.

Though registration for the pilot training is full, we look forward to learning from participant feedback and incorporating this topic into VMP's training schedule in the future.


Mentor Meet-Up

On November 17th, 5:30-7:30pm, VMP will host a free informal meetup for mentors. Come and chat with VMP staff about your mentoring experience. The evening will provide an opportunity for new and experienced mentors to share their experiences, wisdom, and questions, and help VMP learn how to best continue to support mentors in developing quality relationships. Beer, wine, and light refreshments will be served. Register here.
 


Program Spotlight: SOHO: Space of Her Own, and Space of His Own, Alexandria

Every month, VMP will recognize the work and accomplishments of an outstanding program. Want us to feature your program's work? Let us know!

Space of Her Own (SOHO) and its male counterpart Space of His Own are creative mentoring programs working with fifth grade youth in both Alexandria and Arlington. Mentors and students work in groups once a week on life skills, visual arts, and carpentry projects to cultivate self-esteem, develop essential social skills and build a powerful bond. After a year of working together, mentors and mentees work with friends and family to remodel the mentee's space. 

Lily Rowny, VMP AmeriCorps VISTA member at SOHO, shares some highlights: "We are excited that all of our mentors for the 2015-2016 SOHO program year have completed their training and begun to make a difference. We are also planning our Mentor/Mentee Match Event that will be held during the second week of November. The girls from two of our Alexandria programs will be matched with their mentors and then sent on a scavenger hunt in the nation's capital. On this adventure, the new matches will navigate their way through the Metro to the National Portrait Gallery, the Marriott hotel and back to Alexandria for dinner."

Want to get involved? Click here to learn more about SOHO's great work!





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Virginia Mentoring Partnership
2500 W. Broad St, Third Floor
Richmond, VA 23220
804-828-1536
Virginia Mentoring Partnership is a 501 (c) 3 organization that is supported by grants, corporate donations, individual donations and in-kind services.  For more information or to support our organization please visit us at 
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