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1) What is a mentor? A mentor is one who, along with parents, consistently provides
school aged children with support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement
and constructive example. The mentoring relationship can be
characterized by its ongoing nature, the opportunity for interaction
between the mentors and mentees and the mentor's volunteer commitment.
The older, wiser, more experienced individual is called a "mentor".
The younger individual is called a "mentee". 2)What is the difference between a mentor and a tutor? As a result of the research and interviews conducted by the Arizona Mentoring Initiative (AMI) over the past two years, it has become clear that there is a lack of understanding among many groups regarding the difference between mentoring and tutoring. This creates a real problem in communicating between various groups working with the scholastic and behavioral problems of children and young adults. In its simplest form, tutoring involves the teaching of a skill or set of skills to either an individual or group of individuals. While it may be advantageous, it is not necessary that the same person serve as the tutor to an individual or a group over an extended period of time. The reason for this is that tutoring is not based on a personal relationship between the person doing the tutoring and the person being tutored. Mentoring, on the other hand, is heavily dependent on the
establishment and nurturing of a close, personal relationship
between the mentor and mentee over time. 3) How does the Arizona Mentoring Initiative define and classify the different types of mentoring programs? Site based - Mentoring relationships which occur at a specific site (e.g. school, community center, etc.) Community based - Mentoring relationships which occur in the community in general. The meeting location and activity for each meeting is left to the discretion of the mentor and mentee. Peer Mentoring - Mentoring conducted by peers or fellow students.
There are many ways to become a mentor and this website is a great starting point. Begin by considering the amount of time you have on a weekly basis for mentoring. Commitment is an important part of the process for both you and your prospective mentee. Then consider your interests. Mentoring programs are designed to address specific skills. So, spend some time reviewing the program descriptions in your geographic area. If you have any questions, please call us at (602) 252-5312. Once you've selected a mentoring program, contact the agency directly. Let them know of your interest. Be specific about the amount of time you have. Ask about "best practices", including training and support for volunteers, and the application and screening process (fingerprinting and background checks). When you have found a program that is right for you, commit
to it and to your mentee. We are confident that the rewards you
receive being a mentor will far outweigh the time and energy
you invest. 5) My time is limited. I have a family and a job. Does this prevent me from mentoring? Absolutely not. There are a variety of mentoring opportunities available, each with its own program and schedule. The directory within this site gives information on the duration of each program and the hours required each month. Don't forget to check if your employer has a volunteer policy that would provide you flex time to mentor. We are confident that you will be able to find a program that best fits your schedule. 6) What does it take to be a mentor? Commitment. Spend a set amount of time each week with the young person you are going to mentor. Patience. Remember how hard it was to be young, and try to understand the circumstances the young person you are going to mentor is faced with. Understanding. Building a relationship with a young person
takes time. Remember that often we need to have an understanding
of where someone is coming from to know how we can help them.
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