Program Resources

This section will provide you with access to a variety of mentoring resources and information on MENTOR’s special projects and initiatives. Use the left menu to access sections for:

Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™, Third Edition: The Elements reflect the latest in quality mentoring research, policies, and practices and serve as the gold standard for operating effective mentoring programs. The third edition includes six evidence-based standards addressing mentor and mentee recruitment; screening; training; matching; monitoring and support; and closure. Each standard offers benchmarks for day-to-day operations, and they are applicable in stand-alone mentoring programs, as well as programs where mentoring is one element. Each standard also offers enhancements that program staff can incorporate, based on the experience of outstanding mentoring practitioners. 

Elements of Effective Practice Toolkit: Online version of the Toolkit, How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice™, includes over 160 tools, templates and advice for implementing and adhering to the second edition of the Elements.

Resources and Publications: Comprehensive library of mentoring resources for mentoring programs, mentors and mentees on issues ranging from starting a mentoring program, building and sustaining mentoring relationships and much more.

Volunteer Referral Service (VRS):  Prospective mentors can search for mentoring opportunities in their community using a zip code based search.  The VRS is comprised of over 5,000 mentoring programs organized by State Mentoring Partnerships, Volunteer Centers and mentoring programs.  Mentoring programs can register their program with MENTOR’s program network to increase program visibility and recruit more mentors.

Training and Events:  Access information about National Mentoring Month; find out about mentoring/youth development training events and conferences and register for MENTOR's 2010 Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™ Webinar series or access the archive.

Criminal Background Checks:  Find resources on screening volunteers and accessing criminal background checks. 

Academic Achievement through Mentoring:  Mentoring is a youth development strategy that naturally supports the goal of reducing the dropout rate. Research has shown mentoring to have significant positive effects of two early indicators of high school dropouts.  MENTOR, BBBS and Mentoring USA have joined together on an initiative designed to connect mentors with young people in 170 communities that comprise the 2,000 lowest performing schools in the U.S.