Resources & Publications

No matter how much you enjoy being a mentor, there are probably times when you think, "So now what do I do?"

Not only will you find activities to do with your mentee, but you will also find exercises you can do to improve your mentoring skills. They do not take long, but they will go a long way in making you an even better mentor.

Getting Started in a Mentoring Relationship

Mentor Guidelines and Code of Conduct, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Guidelines for Mentors, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Stages of a Mentoring Relationship, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Mentoring Adolescents Training Needs Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 1, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

How to Be a Great Mentor guide

Developed by Newsweek, Kaplan and MENTOR. Provides a comprehensive overview for new or existing mentors on multiple issues, ranging from the lifecycle of mentoring, profiles of successful people and the influence of mentoring on their lives and resources on how to get involved in mentoring.

Community Mentoring for Adolescent Development Manual

Developed by Baylor University to train college students to mentor young adolescents. Includes mentor training topics on goal-setting, decision-making and stages of the mentoring relationship. Also provides content on adolescent development, middle school transitions, self-awareness, alternatives to violence, and health concerns like smoking, drug use, HIV infection, teen pregnancy and eating disorders. Each chapter includes a suggested lesson plan outline, overhead visuals, and training activities. You will also find extensive bibliographies and template documents. (10.6 MB) (updated by MENTOR)

Training Guide for Volunteer Mentors

Students in Business, Inc.

Training New Mentors (2008)

A comprehensive guide to providing mentors with initial training, complete with over a dozen ready-to-use training activities.

Tips for Building a Mentoring Relationship, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Building Relationships, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Building Trust Attachment with Your Mentee Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 4, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

Setting Mentoring Boundaries Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 6, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

Fostering Close and Effective Relationships in Youth Mentoring Programs, Issue 4, Research In Action Series, MENTOR

The Cyberbullying Toolkit for Tutors and Mentors

Developed by America Learns and Net-Generation expert Vanessa Van Petten.ffers steps volunteers can take to help mentees address online harassment, and provides guidance to school administrators, parents and guardians.

Characteristics of Children and Youth, Ages 8-16, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Developmental Characteristics of 12-14 Year Olds Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 8, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

Developmental Characteristics of 15-18 Year Olds Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 9, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

Characteristics of High-Risk Students, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005) (Word, 24k)

Making the Most of Mentoring an Adolescent Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 2, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

Aren't Mentors for Little Kids Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 3, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

Influence of Culture on Mentoring Relationships Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 7, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

Exploring and Valuing Diversity, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Children of Incarcerated Parents

Amachi in Brief, P/PV (PDF).

Author: Chelsea Farley. Published by Public/Private Ventures, February 2004.

Amachi: Mentoring Children of Prisoners in Philadelphia, P/PV (PDF).

Published by Public/Private Ventures, June 2003.

Building from the Ground Up: Creating Effective Programs to Mentor Children of Prisoners (PDF).

Published by Public/Private Ventures, July 2005.

Family & Corrections Network National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated

Mentoring Children of Prisoners Bibliography

Published by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Mentoring Formerly Incarcerated Adults: Insights From the Ready4Work Reentry Initiative (PDF).

Authors: ShawnBauldry, Danijela Korom Djakovic, Laurie Kotloff, Wendy S. McClanahan, and Jennifer McMaken. Published by Public/Private Ventures, January 2009.

Foster Children

AFC Mentoring / Adoption and Foster Care Mentoring

Foster Youth Mentorship Training for Program Managers (PDF).

Authors: Dustianne North and Brenda Ingram. Published by The EMT Group.

Gay/Lesbian/Bi-Sexual/Questioning Youth

Mentoring Sexual Minority Youth (PDF).

Author: Linda Jucovy. Published by Public/Private Ventures, December 2000.

Immigrant and Refugee Youth

Mentoring Immigrant and Refugee Youth: A Toolkit for Program Coordinators (PDF).

Published by MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership.

Pregnant and Parenting Teens

Youth Development and Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention

ETR Associates

Youths with Disabilities

Best Practice Guide, Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PDF).

Published by Partners for Youth with Disabilities, Inc., September 2005.

Paving the Way to Work: A Guide to Career-Focused Mentoring

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability

Responsible Mentoring: Difficult Issues, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Responsible Mentoring: Talking about Drugs, Sex and Other Difficult Issues, EMT Group (2000)

Examples of Roadblocks to Effective Communication, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Helpful Communication Skills, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Let's Get Real-Positive Communication Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 5, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

Discovering the Possibilities: "C"ing Your Future 

Published by Mentoring Partnership of Long Island (2010). 
Designed in 12 modules for middle and high school students and their mentors, it helps students imagine their hopes and dreams, learn to set goals and milestones, think about college and to work smarter in school.

Planning and Design, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Mentoring Activity Links, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

What Will We Do Each Week?, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Topics for Discussions Between Mentors and High School-Age Youth, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Activity: What's Hot and What's Not, Tools for Mentoring Adolescents, Issue 10, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute (PDF)

Holiday Ideas: Celebrating the Season

Science Buzz

Interactive Web site on science, Science Museum of Minnesota

75 Cool Activities for Mentors and Mentees

My College Options

Developed by professionals with almost 40 years of experience in linking high school students with colleges and universities, My College Options^® connects students to 2,000 colleges and universities nationwide and has almost 5 .5 million students enrolled. Features a unique system of matching students with the colleges and universities that are right for them and will help students reach their post-secondary goals.

Writing Goals and Objectives and Worksheet, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Practical Skills for Tutoring, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

*Supporting Military Kids during Deployment, Tough Topic 1 (PDF)

*Helping Kids Deal with Stress Tough Topic 2 (PDF)

*The Impact of Grief and Loss Tough Topic 3 (PDF)

*Provided by the National Guard Child and Youth Program for parents and others concerned about children in military families.

Why Youth Mentoring Relationships End, Issue 5, Research In Action Series, MENTOR

Terminating Relationships, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)

Closure, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, MENTOR (2005)