Mentor Training
Ground Rules
Written communication can only occur via iMentor Platform
This includes Lessons completions, Conversations/Chats, and the new Text feature from iMentor.
Never exchange personal contact information.
Non-monitored communication such as email, social media, phone calls, mobile texting, or virtual video calls are strictly forbidden.
In person or virtual meetings must be facilitated by BBBS of CNM Agency - Typically, events and pair meetings are facilitated by your Match Support Specialist.
Your Match Support Specialist will be happy to facilitate extra pair meetings on campus, at the BBBS office, or even a coffee shop. Contact your MSS to coordinate a meeting.
Please contact your Match Support Specialist if you have any questions about communication or information sharing with your mentee.
NOTE: mentor2.0 Plus program relaxes a lot of these restrictions around methods of communication. mentor2.0 Plus program requires additional parental consent and background checks for mentors. Your Match Support Specialist continually evaluates matches that may benefit from this program. Please discuss with your mentee and contact your Match Support Specialist if you think this will benefit your match.
The following is a comprehensive list of ground rules that all mentors are expected to abide by:
I agree to participate in the mentor2.0 program of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico and understand the following rules and guidelines:
I understand that my role as a Mentor is to write at least one guided e-mail per week and attend in-person events as planned.
I understand that my relationship with my Mentee is limited to the iMentor web platform and Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) supervised in-person events and that we cannot see each other outside of school or approved BBBS events (e.g., field trips, make-up events, etc.). I understand that my Mentee and I cannot exchange phone numbers, email addresses, and/or home addresses, or communicate with each other via social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.).
I will not use alcohol or drugs prior to seeing my Mentee or in their presence.
I will stay at the site with my Mentee, unless participating in a supervised field trip or attending a BBBS agency event.
I will not provide transportation for my Mentee at any time.
I understand that my Mentee will attend class regularly and that I will be required to complete support contacts with my Match Support Specialist (MSS) starting within the first 2 weeks after the match is created.
I agree to be in touch with the MSS on a regular basis to discuss my match. I understand that bi-monthly support contacts will be initiated by the MSS over the phone, in-person, or via email. I will complete any surveys or evaluation forms given to me by my MSS regarding how the match is progressing.
I understand that illness, vacation, or school holidays may sometimes prevent weekly contact. If I cannot keep my scheduled appointment, I will notify my MSS and message my mentee.
I will collaborate with my Mentee to create communication plans over school breaks.
I will follow Big Brothers Big Sisters child safety and reporting guidelines.
I understand that consistent communication with my Mentee is one of the most important things I can do as a Mentor. I will do my part to stay matched for one whole year, and understand that due to the nature of this program I would ideally maintain my match until graduation.
I understand that all school rules are in effect during on-site events and make-up events and I will follow the school rules (i.e., following site dress code, checking in with the site office, wearing an I.D. badge when on the site grounds, cell phone policies, etc.).
Any gift should not exceed $25 and should be approved by the MSS prior to be purchased. No more than 2 gifts per year . It is important our relationship is not built on spending money, but rather on spending time with my Mentee
I agree to respect my Mentee’s cultural and religious practices, beliefs, and opinions. I also agree not to impose my own cultural, religious, or political beliefs on my Mentee.
I agree to respect my Mentee’s physical and emotional boundaries.
I understand the confidentiality policy and agree to abide by the policy.
I accept complete responsibility for my actions as a volunteer. I agree to hold Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico and all members, agents, representatives and employees of that organization harmless and free from liability for my actions as a volunteer.
Using the iMentor Platform
Explore the links below to find more information on how to navigate the iMentor platform:
Skills Resources for Mentors from iMentor
iMentor provides a TON of skills resources for mentors such that we will not list them all individually on this website, unless it is an article we want to highlight. The primary link to all iMentor mentoring skills and mentor mindset resources for mentors is below:
Short on time? Get started with these:
Discouraged with an inconsistent mentee?
Key Qualities of a Great Mentor
Supporting Undocumented Students
Once you are able to access the self directed trainings through the iMentor Platform, you will have access to the following courses:
New Mentor Trainings
We have two modules that we expect all new mentors to complete.
Welcome to iMentor: What to Expect
Writing your First Message
Modules for All Mentors
LGBTQ+ Students
Undocumented Students
Engaging Families
Productive Empathy
Courageous Conversations
Big Brothers Big Sisters: The Learning Exchange(TLE) -Signing on to TLE, Trauma Informed Care, working with LGBTQ Youth
The Learning Exchange is the learning portal used for BBBS specific training.
Signing on to The Learning Exchange
To log in to The Learning Exchange for the first time, volunteers:
Enter your Username (which is the email address you entered when registering with BBBS)
Enter the temporary password: Bbbs123
You will be asked to create a new password
Once you have created the new password, click “Submit”
Trauma Informed Care
Here is a little bit of information regarding how we use Trauma Informed Care (TIC) at Big Brothers Big Sisters. The basic premise is that everybody to one degree or another experiences trauma (it can be extreme or not so extreme - it can be divorce, seeing parents yelling, nearly getting hit by a car, failing an exam, an unexpected break-up, etc.). On any given day there may be something going on in a person’s life that causes them to not be responsive to daily duties/obligations (i.e. writing to their mentors). With TIC it is better to assume that a person is not performing optimally because they have experienced something negative as opposed to assuming they are just irresponsible, lazy, or don’t care. Taking the former approach fosters compassion (and closeness) whereas the latter can breed criticism (and create barriers).
Search for the following trainings in The Learning Exchange for more information on Trauma Informed Care:
- Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care for Volunteers - Material (1 hour)
- Trauma-Informed Interactions and COVID-19 for Mentoring Programs - Material (50minutes)
Supporting LGBTQ
Search for the following trainings in The Learning Exchange:
- Creating Safe and Inclusive Mentoring Services for LGBTQ Youth - Material (1 hour)
- Q&A Episode 11 - Creating a More Inclusive Environment for LGBTQ Youth - Video (10 minutes)
- Q&A Episode 19 - Working with Schools to Help LGBTQ Youth Feel Safe and Supported
Strengths-Based Approach
The Strength Based Approach (SBA) involves actively listening in a non-judgmental way and keeping the focus on positive feedback while not drawing too much attention to the negative - unless it really does need to be addressed. In Positive Psychology there is a metaphor that is frequently used likening SBA to a sailboat:
When we lead with our strengths it is like lifting the sails and using the wind to propel us forward. Weaknesses on the other hand are like leaks, holes, or imperfections in the boat - we can’t ignore the gaping holes and leaks that will cause the boat to sink; but if we only focus on the weaknesses, while we won’t sink, we also won’t get anywhere.
Below are some links, external to iMentor and BBBS, that are related to Strengths which falls under the umbrella subject of Positive Psychology:
Feel free to share this link with your mentee as there is a teen specific survey also.
Who doesn't like a good TED talk?
UNM's very own Bruce Smith, whose class on Positive Psychology (consistently ranked the favorite course at UNM by students), has written a very inexpensive book (used as the course textbook) that is an accessible, easy to read resource on strengths available on Amazon.