FAQ
Q: Who can be a mentor?
A: Anyone can serve as a mentor to someone else as long as they have experience-based wisdom, listen well, and can play a helping role.
Q: Is mentoring a child a time consuming process requiring a daily or weekly commitment?
A: Mentoring programs have varying time commitments depending upon the need of the child and the nature of the program. For instance, homework helpers may be need an hour each day, 3 days each week. Conversely, interest based mentors (such as sports, music, art, etc) may spend an hour or two each week with children participating in the program. In any case, consistent levels of contact are critical to the success of the relationship.
Q: Must I have a college degree or be a social worker to be a mentor?
A: The most effective mentors are those who are patient, committed, and willing to listen to their mentee. Mentors do not need to be perfect, rich, a licensed social worker or a CEO. Mentors simply need to be willing to help a young person by being a consistent, caring adult, help them problem solve, practice good communication, and introduce them to new experiences and ideas. However, MPCP provides orientation and support sessions for mentors to help them cultivate their natural abilities as mentors.
Q: How do I find a mentor or mentee?
A: Sometimes mentoring relationships develop spontaneously but don’t wait for that to happen! Use the Mentoring Partnership of Central PA to locate someone with a background similar to your interests.
Q: How long should the mentoring relationship last?
A: There are some mentoring relationships last for many years. Most do not. Some of our partners facilitate programs that may support a child through to high school graduation. Other partners recruit mentors to serve, for example, as homework helpers for a single semester. In a formal mentoring relationship, it is always best to follow the guidelines of the mentoring program, promising only to mentor a young person for the time period determined by the program. If you would like your mentoring relationship to continue after the program has officially ended, it is best to discuss the transition from a formal to informal relationship with the mentoring program operator, the mentee, and the mentee’s parent or guardian.
Q: Does mentoring require any out of pocket expense?
A: Most, if not all, mentoring programs require no monetary commitment from a mentor. Gift giving from the mentor to the mentee is discouraged, unless it has been approved by the program coordinator and/or the gift can be shared with all mentees in the program (for example, a snack or goodie bad at a celebration). Mentors will not feel pressure to take mentees on trips, on expensive outings, or buy birthday gifts. Ask your mentoring program operator for creative, low-cost, and fun activities to do with your mentee.
Q: What’s the advantage of using the Mentoring Partnership of Central PA?
A: MPCP works like a hub, connecting potential mentors with mentoring organizations.
Q: Will I be required to have a Criminal Background Check?
A: The short answer to this question is "yes." For the safety of the children participating in our programs, all mentors are required to obtain a Pennsylvania Criminal History check. This is obtained electronically through a system that reports activity recorded in Pennsylvania courts. A Child Abuse Clearance is also required. This is also obtained electronically through a system that reports any findings of child abuse or neglect in county social service departments. In most cases, a Federal Criminal History check is the final requirement. This information is also obtained electronically through a system that reports activity recorded in any National or International court.
Q: What should I do if things do not seem to be going well?
A: Very occasionally, the fit between mentor and mentee does not work. Or something interferes with the efficacy of the relationship. The best way to handle these situations is to be open and frank. If there is something that isn’t working, it’s very important to have a conversation about it as soon as possible. Be careful not to give up too soon – sometimes a rough spot doesn’t mean the end of the relationship and, in fact, having an open conversation can strengthen it
Q: What is the role of feedback in mentoring?
A: Both the mentee and the mentor can benefit from feedback from each other. Feedback is information that tells you how effectively you are performing or what you might do to improve what you are doing. Thus, feedback can be positive or it can help address a weakness. Either way, feedback should be viewed as a gift.
