Club UMD Volunteer Training Manual 2011-2012

1. Club UMD Volunteer Training Manual 2011-2012

2. Introduction Exercise Turn to the person next to you and ask them the following questions: • What is your name and affiliation with UM? • Why are you participating in Club UMD? • Have you mentored/tutored before? • What is one thing you hope to get out of the experience? Now you will have to introduce your partner to the class.

3. Quick Facts Youth with positive adult role models are MORE likely to show the following traits: • Attend school regularly • Graduate high school • Enroll in college • Gradual improvement in grades • Less likely to engage in substance abuse • Reduced incidents of violent or disruptive behavior • Demonstrate positive social attitudes and social relationships • Tend to communicate better with family members and improved trust • Feel they receive better emotional support from peers

4. Self-Reflection Exercise Before you learn more about becoming a volunteer, it is important to take a look inward and reflect on your own mentoring experiences. Take a few minutes to answer questions 1-4 on page 4 of your manual.

5. What is a Mentor? • Demanding • Adaptable • Encouraging • Proactive • Nurturing • Non-Judgmental • “Active” listener • Role model • Resource • Counselor • Respectful • Committed

6. A Mentor IS NOT: • Parole officer • Savior • Baby-sitter • Teacher • “Voice in their Head” • ATM • Social worker or Psychologist • Parent or guardian • Cool peer • Nag

7. Tips for Building a Positive Youth/Adult Relationship Let’s take a few minutes to answer questions 1-5 on page 7 of your manual. • Be there • Be a guide, not an all knowing authority • Be a Role Model • Help your mentee have a say in activities • Be ready to help out

8. Initiating a Youth/Adult Relationship • Predictability and Consistency • Testing • Establish Confidentiality • Goal Setting

9. Ice breakers and Conversation Starters • Ask about their classes and school activities. • Talk about current events. Bring a newspaper or magazine clipping. • Ask about family life, (i.e., any siblings? large or small family? where are you from?) • Ask about hobbies. Be prepared to explain some of your own. • Talk about arts and culture, music, etc. Share some of your likes and dislikes. Movies are a good place to start, but don’t be afraid to get into music, culture, etc. Don’t try to be too hip, and remember, relate to them as a human being, not an adult trying to think like a teen-ager.

10. Active Listening • Showing Empathy – Acknowledge Feelings • Asking for clarification and detail while withholding you judgment and your own opinions • Providing non-evaluative feedback – feeding back the message you heard

11. Discipline Issues • Never physically discipline, even in a symbolic way • Never use abusive language • Don’t lay down ultimatums • Most youth will listen and respond to reason. • Don’t give the silent treatment to solve the problem. • In extreme cases, you may have to ask a school administrator for assistance. • Occasionally, a student will have to be removed from the program, but this will be rare, and you will be provided with a good deal of support in the process.

12. Safety & Liability Issues • Do not put a child in your car for any reason and avoid being alone with any student for any extended period of time. • Get background checked as required. • State law requires you to report suspected child abuse or neglect, no matter when it may have occurred. • Do not place yourself in situations where you feel your safety may be at risk. • Do not give out your cell or home number.

13. Youth Questions…how to answer the tough ones? Each of the participants will be handed an index card containing a questions which could be asked by young people or difficult scenarios which could arise. We will take turns trying to answer these questions and discussing the issues they raise.