Mentoring FAQ

  1. What is the time commitment?
  2. What are Assets and how do they work?
  3. What is a mentor?
  4. How am I supported as a mentor?
  5. What is the demographic you serve?
  6. How do you match students and mentors?
  7. What is your success rate?
  8. Where does Mentoring take place?
  9. What does it cost to be a mentor?
  10. Would I be a good mentor?
  11. Do I have to be a Christian to be a mentor?
  12. What if something comes up that I don’t know how to deal with?

  1. What is the time commitment?

    Each mentor is asked to make a commitment of at least 16 months, and commit to meeting with their student(s) two to five hours per week, communicate regularly with their mentor coach, attend trainings and twice-a-year training weekends.

  2. What are Assets and how do they work?

    The 40 Developmental Assets

    The Search Institute has surveyed over two million youth across the United States and Canada since 1989. Researchers have learned about the experiences, attitudes, behaviors, and the number of Developmental Assets at work for these young people. Studies reveal strong and consistent relationships between the number of assets present in young people’s lives and the degree to which they develop in positive and healthful ways. Results show that the greater the numbers of Developmental Assets are experienced by young people, the more positive and successful their development. The fewer the number of assets present, the greater the possibility youth will engage in risky behaviors such as drug use, unsafe sex, and violence.

    The reality is that the average young person surveyed in the United States experiences only 19 of the 40 assets. Overall, 59% of young people surveyed have 20 or fewer of the 40 assets. In short, the majority of young people in this country–from all walks of life–are lacking in sufficient Developmental Assets needed for healthy development. These statistics, as well as the role assets play in predicting both positive and negative outcomes for youth, underscore the importance of the developmental asset framework and its application.

    Can anything increase the numbers of assets young people experience?

    The answer is a resounding and hopeful yes! Adults and youth–in big and small ways–can help increase Developmental Assets in the daily lives of young people. What’s needed is an understanding of what actions and behaviors breed success, willingness and ideas to apply that knowledge, and most importantly, a desire to see young people grow up happy, healthy, and confident.

    “Asset-building”–the Institute’s term for purposefully helping youth experience more assets in their lives–is happening in hundreds of communities by thousands of people across North America. Youth and adults in big cities and small towns, understand in growing numbers the awesome power they have in making positive and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Individually and together, they are actively engaged in the movement to grow healthy communities and healthy youth.

    Please visit www.search-institute.org for more information.

  3. What is a mentor?

    A mentor is a caring adult who intentionally spends time with a young person in order to help them become the person God intended them to be.

    A Mentor is a…

    • Friend
    • Coach
    • Teacher
    • Role Model

    A Mentor is not a…

    • Parent
    • Professional counselor
    • Peer
    • Caretaker/enabler

    A Mentor helps…

    • By listening and asking questions to draw out the youth.
    • By encouraging and giving positive feedback.
    • By looking for resources.
    • By being an advocate.
    • By being an adult who can be trusted.
    • By challenging behavior that has negative consequences.
    • By being honest and open about who they are.
    • By resolving conflicts with the mentee as they arise.
    • By teaching the youth about God and the Bible.

      • “Affirming words…are like light switches. Speak a word of affirmation at the right moment in a child’s life and it’s like lighting up a whole roomful of possibilities.”
      -Gary Smalley and John Trent from Leaving the Lights On.

  4. How am I supported as a mentor?

    Mentor Coach:

    Each mentor is assigned to a mentor coach that connects with them consistently over the phone, email and in person every other week. The mentor coach serves to be a support for the mentor through prayer, encouragement and by providing resources.

    A mentor coach is an individual who provides support and accountability to mentors as they work with their students. Mentor coaches are here to help in the process cultivating the mentoring relationship between mentors and students. Mentor coaches also provide resources to mentors such as training, curriculum, information on upcoming events in the LA area, and events hosted by the Lake Avenue Community Foundation.

    Training

    Upon entering Neighborhood Student Mentoring, each mentor is provided basic mentor training and a training manual for reference.

    Quarterly trainings and mentor gatherings are also offered in:

    • February A one-day Saturday training
    • May Three day conference hosted by Urban Youth Workers Institute
      Go to www.uywi.org for more information.
    • September A one-day Saturday training hosted by Lake Avenue Community Foundation in partnership with Lake Avenue Church.
    • December Annual Neighborhood Student Mentoring Christmas Party

  5. What is the demographic you serve?

    The Neighborhood Student Mentoring program was created to provide neighborhood students in Northwest Pasadena an obstacle free opportunity to become college-educated and responsible citizens of their community. Sixty students ranging in age between 10 and 19 years are currently served by NSM, most coming from middle and high schools with academic proficiency ratings that are among the lowest in California.

    LACF’s neighborhood has an estimated 6,161 youths, ages 5-19 years, per square mile. According to the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD)[1] of approximately 22,336 students in PUSD, an estimated 67.7% live below the Federal Poverty Level resulting in 15, 120 students who are eligible for free or discounted lunch at school. Moreover, in 2005, only 32% (approx.) of juniors district-wide passed the California exit exam. Given the condition of the public school system and the poverty level in Pasadena, students are left with little opportunity. With a lack of opportunities and support, these students will graduate unaware of the resources available to them.

  6. How do you match students and mentors?

    Students interested in participating in the mentoring program complete an application that gives them the opportunity to express themselves, their interests, and what they hope to glean from having a mentor. We then pair students with mentors that we believe will be compatible. The parents of the students are then contacted by an NSM mentor coach, and an initial meeting is set. The mentor coach, mentor and student(s) meet together for a casual interaction, usually over dinner or small activity. The goal of this first meeting is to familiarize the student with the potential mentor, and verbalize expectations. If the student and mentor sense it’s a good match and they are ready to pursue a mentoring relationship, they will move forward. It’s typical for the mentor coach to be present in the initial get-togethers, until a sense of trust develops and the relationship flourishes.

  7. What is your success rate?

    We are especially thrilled with the academic success to-date of our students since the NSM program began. Since the 2002/2003 school year:

    • 31 of 33 high school seniors graduated from high school.
    • 20 of these students have gone on to attend Secondary Education at local and four year colleges.
    • 6 students joined and received scholarships from the Ascending Lights Leadership Network[2]

  8. Where does Mentoring take place?

    Mentoring can happen anywhere. Here are just a few suggestions that you may find helpful.

    • Go to a ball game
    • Do a service project together
    • Go bowling
    • Movie and discussion
    • Go for a hike
    • Help the homeless
    • Play video games
    • Be a chauffeur on a date
    • Together: change oil, mow lawn, cook, balance checkbook
    • Go fishing
    • Visit a college
    • Visit your student at school
    • Go camping
    • Go work out
    • Read the same book and discuss it
    • Go to an art museum
    • Go to the beach
    • Have your mentee over for dinner
    • Go job hunting

  9. What does it cost to be a mentor?

    Being a mentor is not free. In terms of financial cost, Lake Avenue Community Foundation does not cover the costs of incidentals incurred while meeting with your student. It’s very helpful (but not required) if you can contribute to cover training costs and materials.

  10. Would I be a good mentor?

    To be a good mentor, you must be willing to give of your time, learn from the student you are mentoring, have boundaries and know when to say “no,” open up your heart, and push through struggles as your relationship grows.

  11. Do I have to be a Christian to be a mentor?

    As a faith-based organization, mentors with Lake Avenue Community Foundation are expected to be mature in their faith in Christ and meet the following criteria:

    You must be a follower of Christ. This will be evident not only in the testimony of your relationship with God, but by the fruits of your actions that indicate a genuine commitment and personal integrity. You must have an earnest desire to love and serve students. You are expected to recognize how God has blessed and uniquely gifted you, and use these blessings and gifts for equipping the student you are serving. You are also charged with encouraging your students to discover their unique gifts, and work to develop those gifts.

    You must be an active participant of a local Church for at least one year prior to becoming a mentor. We ask that you agree to volunteer as a mentor for a minimum of one year, but prefer that your relationship with your students continue through adulthood. We place a high priority on equipping and training our mentors. You are expected to stay actively engaged with your mentor coach on a regular basis.

  12. What if something comes up that I don’t know how to deal with?

    Call your mentor coach and they can talk you through it.


[1] Pasadena Unified School District; Demographic profile taken in the 2004/2005 school year. www.pusd.us

[2] www.ascendinglights.org; Ascending Lights members receive financial support, academic and spiritual mentoring and urban leadership training.