Untapped Potential: Empowering Teens as Mentors

Focused Area

Improving School Climate for Youth-At-Risk

Relevance to Focused Area

Research shows that the more "at-risk" as student is, the more influence their peers have on them. This workshop will illustrate how a cross-age peer mentoring program can have a significant impact on school culture by equipping and empowering teen leaders to lead in a positive way.

Primary Strand

Family & Community

Relevance to Primary Strand

Mentoring has many proven, positive benefits for underserved and/or at-risk youth populations. This workshop educates participants on an beneficial and often overlooked version of mentoring: cross-age peer mentoring programs (CAMP). The model presented in this workshop equips youth-serving agencies to implement a CAMP that fosters collaboration among community members, families, and schools.

Brief Program Description

Fact: high-risk youth are influenced by their peers more than any other factor or person. For this reason, cross-age peer mentoring increases the potential to positively impact youth unlike other programs. During this highly interactive workshop, participants will learn exactly how to implement a research-based, cross-age peer mentoring program in their specific settings.

Summary

-Cross-age peer mentoring (CAMP) has the unique ability to not only positively impact mentees, but develop and empower teens as peer mentors, too. In this workshop, participants will learn how to apply research-based best practices in the field of mentoring to a cross-age peer mentoring program, resulting in positive results for both teen mentors and their mentees.

-Using a variety of training strategies, this workshop will showcase an impactful and replicable model for potential CAMP settings, including school-based, community-based, faith-based, or other group settings.

-Whether brand new to cross-age peer mentoring, or a veteran in the field, participants will walk away with a variety of practical skills, tips and ideas to implement and/or improve a cross-age peer mentoring program in their specific settings. Topics covered include program planning/strategizing, mentor recruitment and training, mentor/mentee matching, and impactful activities mentors and mentees can do together.

-Participants should expect a workshop involving practical training, engaging discussions, and interesting activities.

Evidence

Cross-age peer mentoring is a relatively young player in the overall field of mentoring. Minimal research has been done, but this didn't keep us from diving into known research and adapting proven best practices. The CAMP model presented in this workshop is based on research done by some of the biggest names in the field of mentoring (i.e. Dr. Michael Karcher, Dr. David Dubois, Dr. Jean Rhodes, etc.) and published by a variety of reputable sources (i.e. MENTOR, The Handbook of Youth Mentoring, 2nd edition, etc.). All core elements of this model come directly from cited and proven research.

Format

Individual Presentation

Biographical Sketch

Russel Dains is a dynamic and enthusiastic leader, presenter, and educator. He is passionate about giving students the tools they need to be successful contributors to their communities. He holds a degree in biblical studies, and has over 15 years of experience in working with youth in a variety of settings, including mentoring, youth ministry, and non-profit organizations.

Start Date

11-5-2015 1:00 PM

End Date

11-5-2015 2:15 PM

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Nov 5th, 1:00 PM Nov 5th, 2:15 PM

Untapped Potential: Empowering Teens as Mentors

Fact: high-risk youth are influenced by their peers more than any other factor or person. For this reason, cross-age peer mentoring increases the potential to positively impact youth unlike other programs. During this highly interactive workshop, participants will learn exactly how to implement a research-based, cross-age peer mentoring program in their specific settings.