Mentor Handbook & Guidelines

Transcription

1 Mentor Handbook & Guidelines Name: Dream Girls Mentoring Program, Inc

2 Introduction Dream Girls Mentoring Program, Inc. (Dream Girls) was established on August 27, 2008 in Baltimore, MD. Dream Girls is a non-profit 501c3 organization that is dedicated to uplifting, empowering, educating teenage mothers. Our purpose is to instill positive self-images that will enable young women to be confident and successful. It is the mission of this organization to produce Dedicated, Responsible, Educated, Aspiring and Motivated (DREAM) girls. Being a teenage mother is not an easy task however, with the assistance of this program, young mothers will gain the support they need to become successful individuals in spite of their circumstances. What is a Dream Girl? A Dream Girl is a participant and mentee of the Dream Girls Mentoring Program whether it is Project D.R.E.A.M. (within the school setting) or Project D.R.E.A.M. Community Program (which is hosted in the community setting). What is my role? Dream Girl mentors are the primary contact person and a support system for a mentee through the Dream Girls Mentoring Program. Though we understand a mentor-mentee relationship may flourish, we do not encourage mentors to take on the role of a mentor as a social worker, teacher, parent or best friend. Mentors are encouraged to work with the mentee to assist them with accomplishing their personal and educational goals. Mentors are not obligated to pick their mentees up, escort them to appointments, or be their mentee s personal babysitter. The objective of mentorship within the Dream Girls Mentoring Program is to assist teen mothers to become independent, responsible, goal achieving ladies. 2

3 Meetings/Trainings Mentor meetings/trainings are on the 4th Saturday of every month from 10 am 12 pm at a predetermined location. Mentors are required to attend all monthly meetings/trainings. Mentor meetings provide an opportunity for mentors to connect with each other, express their concerns and/or issues with their mentee, receive additional training (as necessary), and receive updates on any events or news from Dream Girls Mentoring Program. Any mentor who misses more than three consecutive meetings and/or mentor reports will be suspended from the program. We are accountable for our participants and if we are not aware of their progress, we are not doing our job. Monthly Mentor Reports Mentor Reports are summaries of the face-to-face interactions between mentor and mentee. They describe monthly goals and actions that were taken to achieve goals during that reporting month. Mentor reports are due on the 15 th of the month through the Dream Girls Mentoring Program website (via the report portal). When documenting interactions be as detailed as possible. These reports will be used to ensure mentees are making progress toward their goals. Dream Girls Social Activities Social activities are a privilege and are only provided to Dream Girls that attend 90% of the workshops. Social activities will be announced at every workshop and will be posted on the organizations social media page. If, for any reason, a mentee is unable to attend a scheduled Dream Girls Mentoring Program social activity, the mentee should notify their Dream Girls mentor at least one week prior to the scheduled activity. The 3

4 Dream Girls mentor is ultimately responsible for communicating their mentee s social activity attendance status to the Chief Personnel Officer. Dream Girls Events Our events are a direct representation of who we are. When we host a Dream Girls Mentoring Program event, we expect our Dream Girls to attend. Please encourage the mentee to participate in Dream Girls Mentoring Program events. Remind the mentee that the program is for them, so their participation is very important. If transportation is needed for any Dream Girls event, mentees should communicate that need with their mentor. If, for any reason, a mentee is unable to attend a scheduled Dream Girls Mentoring Program event, the mentee should notify their Dream Girls mentor at least one week prior to the scheduled event. The Dream Girls mentor is ultimately responsible for communicating their mentee s event attendance status to the Chief Personnel Officer. Alumni Program Giving Back to the Dream The Dream Girls Alumni Program, Giving Back to the Dream, is for any Dream Girl that was a participant of the Dream Girls Mentoring Program for at least one year and has graduated from high school. Giving Back to the Dream will provide a big sister and a mentor to current Dream Girls participants which gives an additional level of support to teen moms though with a peer. Giving Back to the Dream representatives are expected to provide insight to life as a teen mother in today s society as well as valuable awareness concerning pregnancy prevention. Giving Back to the Dream representatives will meet monthly to discuss issues, challenges, and successes regarding their little sister and will help Dream Girls Mentoring Program staff collect best practices concerning program offerings. 4

5 Mentor-Mentee Relationship The mentor is responsible for providing face-to face interactions with their mentee at least once per month as well as ensuring weekly contact with their mentee via phone, , text messaging, social media, etc. The mentor does not serve as their social worker, parent, or best friend. The mentor is not expected to provide money or gifts of any kind to the mentee. The mentor is expected to provide the mentee with resources, advice, and support as it relates to their personal and educational goals. The mentee is NOT to take advantage of their relationship with their mentor. If a mentor is having a concern regarding their mentee, contact the Dream Girls Chief Personnel Officer. If the mentor and mentee are scheduled to have a face-to-face meeting, it is the mentor s responsibility to maintain that commitment. More than two consecutive missed meetings will result in disciplinary action from the staff of Dream Girls Mentoring Program. If, for any reason, the mentor is not able to interact with their mentee on a monthly basis, please contact the Dream Girls Chief Personnel Officer. Grievance Forms Please find a copy of a Dream Girls Grievance Form at the end of this handbook. Grievance Forms are meant to provide documentation for the organization in the event that an individual has a concern they wish to escalate to Dream Girls Mentoring Program staff. Grievance Forms ought to be filled in completely, providing as much detail as possible, then submitted to the Chief Personnel Officer via . An acknowledgement of receipt will be provided to the individual and a Dream Girls Mentoring Program representative will follow up with the individual directly. Severe Weather Policy 5

6 Dream Girls Mentoring Program will follow the Baltimore City School Public School System early closing and cancellation schedule in the event of severe weather. If Baltimore City Public Schools close due to severe weather, Dream Girls will not conduct workshops, meetings or social activities on that day. Dream Girls Mentoring Program reserves the right to cancel or postpone events at their own discretion and will notify appropriate parties of postponement or cancellation as needed. Grievance Form This form is to be completed by any individual that feels the need to escalate concerns to the Dream Girls Mentoring Program staff. To have concerns addressed, please submit a completed Dream Girls Grievance Form via to dreamgirlsmp@gmail.com. Thank you! 6

7 Name: Date: Cell Phone: Primary Other Phone Number: Other Address: What is your relationship with the Dream Girls Mentoring Program? Mentor Mentee Visitor Other: What is this grievance concerning? (Check all that apply) Staff Mentee Mentor Services Event Please use the lines below to describe, in full detail, what occurred, who was involved, and your specific concern(s). If you need more space, please use the back of this form. 7

8 Signature: Date: Date Received: Office Use Only: Receiver s Name: Has the grievance been addressed? Yes/No Date addressed: By whom: Follow Up Needed? No/Yes; follow up date: Signature Page I,, have read and understand all policies, procedures, and regulations set forth in the Dream Girls Mentoring Program Handbook. I 8

9 understand that violation of any of the abovementioned rules and regulations may result in my dismissal from the program. I understand my role as a Dream Girls Mentor. By signing this document, I agree to uphold all rules and responsibilities of this position as well as represent the organization with integrity and respect. Mentor Name (Print) Mentor Signature Date (Authorized Use Only) Dream Girls Representative Name (Print) Dream Girls Representative Signature Date 9

10 Staff Directory Tamira Dunn Chief Executive Officer/ Founder Terry Cornish Program Director Zuri Battle Program Director Samantha Willis Chief Personnel Officer

11 Signature Page I,, have read and understand all policies, procedures, and regulations set forth in the Dream Girls Mentoring Program Handbook. I understand that violation of any of the abovementioned rules and regulations may result in my dismissal of the program. I understand my role as a Dream Girls Mentor. By signing this document, I agree to uphold all roles and responsibilities of this position as well as represent the organization with integrity and respect. Mentor Name (Print) Mentor Signature Date (Authorized Use Only) Dream Girls Representative Name (Print) Dream Girls Representative Signature Date 11