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Mentoring: A New Approach. Effectively Weaving Technology into a Mentoring Program. Founded in 1999 High school students matched one-to-one with mentors Academic, career, and personal development Relationships developed online and in-person Currently 1,000 mentor-mentee matches.
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Mentoring: A New Approach Effectively Weaving Technology into a Mentoring Program
Founded in 1999 • High school students matched one-to-one with mentors • Academic, career, and personal development • Relationships developed online and in-person • Currently 1,000 mentor-mentee matches
Challenges of Mentoring Programs PARTICIPANTS • Mentors & Mentees struggle to build quality relationships • Mentors cannot travel to home communities of mentees • Mentors do not have enough time to commit • Mentors need flexibility in volunteer commitment • Mentors want to take advantage of emerging technologies • Mentees have limited access to quality mentors • Mentees lack trust in previously unknown adults • Mentees lack access to resources and opportunity
Challenges of Mentoring Programs PROGRAM STAFF • Recruiting & screening quality mentors • Matching mentor-mentee pairs • Ensuring safety of mentee and mentor participants • Relationship building among participants • Evaluating quality and success of the program • Scalability of program management
Technology as a Solution Incorporating technology will benefit program staff and participants • Safely and effectively manage a high-quality, sustainable program • Increase the number of adults volunteering as mentors • Ensure strong mentor-mentee matches • Connect mentors with high-need youth
iMentor’s Mentoring Model Using technology to develop mentoring relationships online Regular Email Communication Regular In-Person Meetings + Email facilitatestargeted, in-depthconversations In-person meetingsgrow strong, personal relationships
Program Impact iMentor’s Example. Online Mentoring Works. A New Class of Mentors & Mentees • 98% of mentees have never had a mentor; 60% of never heard of “mentoring” as a concept or that mentoring programs existed • 70% of mentors had never served as a mentor • 93% of volunteers would recommend iMentor to their peers
Program Impact iMentor’s Example. Online Mentoring Works. Strong Relationships • 89% of mentees said they could “trust and depend on” their mentors • 88% of mentees said the program made them more confident interacting with adults
Program Impact iMentor’s Example. Online Mentoring Works. Building Academic & Career Success • 85% of mentees said iMentor made them a better student • 88% were exposed to opportunities and experiences they wouldn’t have otherwise had access to • 75% were more comfortable using email and other technologies
So… what is iMentor Interactive?
iMentor Interactive The Online Mentoring Solution
Technology as a Solution • Safely and effectively manage a high-quality, sustainable program
Technology as a Solution • Increase the number of adults volunteering as mentors
Case Study Partners: United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, Bridgeport Public Schools, School Volunteer Association, Bridgeport Public Education Fund and Pitney Bowes 2008/2009 Program Participants Mentees: 10th & 11th grade Mentors: Community Volunteers (78% have never been a mentor before) Number of Pairs on iMi: 100 Staffing: Program Coordinator (1) Program Structure Program Coordinator (PC) manages 100 mentor/mentee pairs Students attend one of 3 high schools (“partner sites”) PC holds weekly in-class sessions with students Mentors/mentees email (using curriculum) once per week One-year matches
Technology as a Solution • Ensure strong mentor-mentee matches
Technology as a Solution • Ensure strong mentor-mentee matches
Technology as a Solution • Connect mentors with youth through email and events
Case Study Partners: Local Elementary Schools 2008/2009 Program Participants Mentees: 4th grade students Mentors: Community Volunteers Number of Pairs on iMi: 25 Staffing: Program Admin & Coordinator (work on mentoring part time) Program Structure Students attend one of 2 elementary schools (“partner sites”) Mentors meet students after school for hourly visit, incorporate email writing as part of the visit Mentors/mentees email once per week One-year matches
Learn More For more information about iMentor Interactive Contact Us: 212-461-4330 info@imentor.org www.imentorinteractive.org