Program Best Practices
TMP Impact Profile: Providence Connections

Learn more about how TMP supported Providence Connections to develop and implement a sustainable program design. 

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Program Best Practices
TMP Impact Profile: Crossroads Foundation

Learn more about how TMP supports Crossroads Foundation and its work to provide Pittsburgh youth with a high-quality high school education and routes to support college and other post-secondary education.

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Building Relationships
Becoming a Better Mentor

This resource, organized by chapters, provides real-world advice and tangible strategies to help caring adults “be there” for the young people in their lives.

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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion — Program Best Practices
May 2024 LENS Meeting Recap: SOGIE

Mx. Coley Alston, MPH and Program Director at Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation, shares more about SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity and expression) and how programs and caring adults can better support young people through the use of inclusive language.

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Program Best Practices
April 2024 LENS Meeting Recap: Financial Aid Literacy

Amy Sawdey, PHEAA's Higher Education Access Partner, is sharing more about recent FAFSA changes and how to guide young people through the application process. 

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Program Best Practices
January 2024 LENS Meeting Recap: Mentor Recruitment Best Practices

TMP's January 2024 LENS Meeting was all about mentor recruitment best practices.  Check out the recap for key highlights!

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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion — Program Best Practices
Guide to Mentoring Boys and Young Men of Color

Helps mentoring programs leverage the power of group mentoring to benefit all participants.

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Youth Sports
Everyday Mentoring Weekly Text Tips for Coaches

These Everyday Mentoring weekly text tips will help youth sports coaches better support their athletes on and off the field.

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School-Based Mentoring
Relationship-Centered Schools: A Framework for Leveraging Mentoring School-Wide
Relationships matter now more than ever and especially in schools. TMP's Relationship-Centered Schools framework helps school districts activate the power of strong relationships for all students!
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Program Best Practices
Post-Pandemic Volunteer Recruitment Strategies

Check out this recording from our May 2023 LENS Meeting (Learning, Engaging, Networking and Sharing) all about mentor recruitment strategies and approaches.

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Youth Mental Health
Mentoring and Youth Mental Health Guide

Available in both English and Spanish, this guide shares information and resources about youth mental health and the unique role adults have in suporting mental wellness for all young people.

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Youth Mental Health
Youth Mental Health Program Checklist
A checklist designed to help mentoring programs evaluate their youth mental health supports and resources.
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Building Relationships
Making the Most of Mentoring

This activity card provides tips for youth on how to build their networks and map out their goals.

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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion — Program Best Practices
Inclusive Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

Addresses how programs can adequately train mentors/staff members, design and evaluate their services and assess their policies and procedures to be more inclusive of those with disabilities.  

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Program Best Practices
Group Mentoring Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

Helps mentoring programs leverage the power of group mentoring to benefit all participants.

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Peer Mentoring — Program Best Practices
Peer Mentoring Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

Research-based best practices to help practitioners and funders plan and deliver strong peer mentoring programs.

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Program Best Practices — Workplace Mentoring
Workplace Mentoring Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

A how-to guide of best practices for workplace mentoring programs.

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Program Best Practices
E-Mentoring Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

Best practices for e-mentoring programs.

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Program Best Practices — Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
LGBTQ Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

Step-by-step operations guidance to develop safer, more affirming and responsive mentoring relationships for LGBTQ+ youth.

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Program Best Practices
Critical Mentoring Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

An accessible, working collection of information and ideas that constitute a framework for critical mentoring.

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Program Best Practices
STEM Mentoring Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring

Research-backed and practice-based tips specifically for STEM mentoring programs. 

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Building Relationships
Everyday Mentoring

Everyday Mentoring recognizes that adults everywhere can make a mentoring difference for youth in their daily lives.

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Training
Characteristics of Children and Youth
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Child Development
Understanding Characteristics of Children and Youth
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What is Mentoring
Is a mentor supposed to act as another parent for my child?
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Benefits of Mentoring
Does mentoring make a difference?
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What is Mentoring
Why mentoring?
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What is Mentoring
What is mentoring?
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Role of Parents & Guardians
What is my role?
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Additional Resources
The National Mentoring Partnership
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Additional Resources
Chronicle of Evidence Based Mentoring
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Additional Resources
Education Northwest
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Benefits of Mentoring
Youth Want More Mentors
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Benefits of Mentoring
Mentoring Improves Academic Outcomes for Youth
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Benefits of Mentoring
Mentoring Can Help All Types of Youth
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Benefits of Mentoring
Mentoring Positively Affects the Mental Health and Behavior of Young People
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Benefits of Mentoring
Mentors Benefit from Mentoring
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Benefits of Mentoring
Mentees’ Lives are Positively Affected by Mentoring
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Activity Ideas
What Will We Do Each Week?
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Activity Ideas
Topics to Discuss with Mentees
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Activity Ideas
A Year’s Worth of Mentoring Activities
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Supporting Youth
Handling Difficult Topics with Mentees
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Supporting Youth
How to Support Grieving Mentees
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Supporting Youth
Preparing Mentees for Middle School
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Building Healthy Relationships
The Importance of Time and Trust
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Building Healthy Relationships
Setting Boundaries in the Mentoring Relationship
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Building Healthy Relationships
Building the Mentor-Mentee Relationship
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Healthy Mentor-Mentee Relationships
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Communication Skills
Communication Styles
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Communication Skills
Ages and Stages of Communication
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Communication Skills
Effective Communication Skills
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Diversity
Exploring and Valuing Diversity
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Child Development
Ages & Stages of Youth
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Getting Started
Mentor Job Description
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Getting Started
Mentor Code of Conduct
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Getting Started
The Mentoring Partnership's Peer Mentor Handbook
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Getting Started
The Mentoring Partnership's Mentoring Overview
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Getting Started
The Mentoring Partnership's Mentor Training Guide
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Closure
Mentee/Mentor Termination Ritual
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Closure
Closure Description
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Closure
Types of Closure - Webinar
This webinar defines types of closure and explains why closure matters.
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Monitoring & Support
Evaluation
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Monitoring & Support
Mentor Feedback
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Monitoring & Support
Mentee Feedback
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Monitoring & Support
Measuring the Quality of Mentor-Youth Relationships
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Monitoring & Support
Tracking Mentor Relationship Data
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Monitoring & Support
Goal Setting and Decision Making with Mentees
This resource includes tips and worksheets that mentors and mentees can use together when setting goals and making tough decisions.
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Monitoring & Support
Engaging Matches in Volunteer Service
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Monitoring & Support
Incorporating Academics & Tutoring in Mentoring Relationships
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Monitoring & Support
What Will We Do Each Week
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Monitoring & Support
A Year's Worth of Mentoring Activities
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Monitoring & Support
Topics for Discussion
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Monitoring & Support
Building Relationships
For the beginning of the mentoring relationship
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Monitoring & Support
Supporting Mentors All Program Long
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Monitoring & Support
Ongoing Mentor Training Topics and Tips
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Monitoring & Support
Relationship Development Checklist
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Matching
Mentor Match Agreement
The following example contract can be used at the initial meeting between youth and mentors, setting the tone for the match.
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Matching
Mentor Interview & Matching Form
This mentor questionnaire can be modified to an agency’s needs to help them match a mentor and mentee with similar interests.
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Matching
Mentee Questionnaire - Grades 9-12
This mentor and mentee questionnaire can be modified to an agency’s needs to help them match a mentor and mentee with similar interests.
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Matching
Mentee Questionnaire - Grades K-8
This mentor and mentee questionnaire can be modified to an agency’s needs to help them match a mentor and mentee with similar interests.
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Matching
Tips and Considerations for the Matching Process
Considerations for matching decisions.
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Matching
Important Predictors of Match Success
“Deep-level similarity”, such as values, beliefs, personality, and experience are more important predictors of match success than “surface-level similarity” such as gender, race, or ethnicity.
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Matching
Innovative Matching Strategies - Webinar
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Training
Mentee and Parent Training & Orientation Ideas
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Training
Guide to Mentoring 
For Parents/Guardians
Directions for specific activities that can be used in mentee/youth trainings.
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Training
Disconnected / Opportunity Youth - Webinar
This webinar includes tips for working with “disconnected/opportunity youth” (i.e., 14-24 year olds who are homeless, in foster care, or are unemployed or not enrolled in school).
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Training
Exploring & Valuing Diversity
Issues of diversity applied to mentor training.
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Training
Mentor Training Topics
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Training
Building Healthy Mentor-Mentee Relationships
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Training
Developing an Orientatioon Plan
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Training
Pennsylvania Requirements for Training of Mandated Reporters
This site explains the new law (Act 31 of 2014) regarding child abuse recognition and reporting training that is now required for employees who work directly with children.
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Training
Mentoring Partnership's Peer Mentor Handbook
This handbook, designed for peer mentors, covers much of the same material provided in the Mentor Training Guide in a style and language more accessible to younger mentors.
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Training
Mentoring Overview Trifold Brochure
This brochure can be distributed to volunteers alongside the Mentor Training Guide for quick access to key terms and questions.
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Training
Mentoring Partnership’s Mentor Training Guide
The Mentoring Partnership’s Mentor Training Guide covers a range of topics of interest to mentors, including the definition of mentoring, relationship development, and effective communication.
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Training
Sample Mentor Job Description
This resource explains the roles and responsibilities of mentors. It can be used in Mentor Orientation.
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Training
Sample Mentor Code of Conduct
This resource explains the roles and responsibilities of mentors. It can be used in Mentor Orientation.
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