The AMP Mentoring Minute Podcast

Exploring the different options on how to initiate matches and facilitate group mentoring amid COVID-19 restrictions. 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: Alberta Mentoring Partnership · AMP COVID-19 Response Town Halls | Initiating Matching and/or Group Mentoring Virtually 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca

Discussion around the possibilities on how you may be able to continue recruiting, screenings, and training potential mentors amid COVID-19 restrictions. 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: Alberta Mentoring Partnership · AMP COVID-19 Response Town Hall: Recruiting, Screening, and Training 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca

The Children and Youth in Care & Mentoring (CAYIC&M) project aimed to increase participation in and further foster meaningful relationships between mentors and children and youth in the Child Intervention system. We will be joined by Michelle Anderson-Draper, AndersonDraper Consulting Inc. who will summarize findings of the evaluation and Amy Jeske, Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters (BGCBigs) who will speak to the agency experience through the evaluation process. We will be discussing the findings and future recommendations from the CAYIC&M and Circle Program evaluations, and why there is a continued need for children and youth in care mentoring programs. 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: Alberta Mentoring Partnership · Children and Youth in Care & Mentoring: Evaluation Learnings and Findings 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca

Exploring how organizations are maintaining support for existing children and youth currently involved in programs (group and one-to-one mentoring). 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca

In this webinar, we explored how organizations have been communicating internally and externally about changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

The Alberta Mentoring Partnership is excited to share a new resource, the Sexual and Gender Diverse (SGD) Youth Mentoring Program Guide. We are excited to share this resource with you and have secured two special guests, Amy Jeske (Mentoring Manager) and Alexandra Jansen (Match Facilitator), Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton. There is a growing awareness that Sexual and Gender Diverse in-person mentoring relationships can serve an essential role for SGD youth, as they would be well-positioned to offer ongoing support to the needs of youth as they navigate through phases of exploring, accepting, and sharing their identity with others. Given that SGD youth face unique challenges, and there is a strong belief that mentors can help them positively navigate these challenges, many organizations have started taking an interest in developing new programs or improving existing programming to address the unique needs of SGD youth. This guide was created by BGCBigs (Boys & Girls Clubs and Big Brothers Big Sisters) Edmonton as a resource for the Alberta Mentoring Partnership. However, the guide can be a reference for youth and community organizations in Alberta and Canada who are interested in this topic. The guide contains recommendations and best practices for working with SGD youth and highlights program design considerations. The program design elements in this manual could be tailored for use in existing mentorship programs that wish to serve SGD youth more effectively or could provide the basis for standalone mentorship programs principally focused on SGD youth and mentors. With Thanks and support to the: The Pride Center of Edmonton, Government of Alberta, BGCBigs, SGD working group, BBBS Calgary, BBBS Winnipeg, and MENTOR. 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

On February 21st, 2020, the Alberta Mentoring Partnership was joined by Dr. Phil Sevigny, and Ph.D. Student Vincenza Martinovich hosted a discussion at the University of Alberta to unveil the draft More Males Mentoring Toolkit. In this episode, hear the recorded presentation on the current state of male mentoring research and the findings from the initial environmental scan. Download the Presentation Here Download the Draft Enviroscan Document Here 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

What’s working and what’s not when it comes to male mentoring? The AMP is excited to announce we have secured a MITACS Grant from the University of Alberta to work with Dr. Phil Sevigny and PhD Student Vincenza Martinovich to explore questions related to helping more male-identified persons get involved in youth mentoring Download The Presentation Here albertamentors.ca/more-males-mentoring 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

We all could use more funding and more volunteers. Join a campaign this January to help find both. Across North America, Mentoring programs will be raising our collective voices to celebrate the importance of youth mentoring, recruit more volunteers, and raise more funds for our programs. Whether you are a new program or have been mentoring for a decade, take the time now to brainstorm how you can help celebrate the importance of youth mentoring across the province. Across Alberta, mentoring programs will be hosting open houses to recruit volunteers, tabling at post-secondary institutions, launching social media, bus shelter, park bench, and bridge banner campaigns to recruit more volunteers. Agencies will be hosting fundraisers and opportunities to engage the community in your important work. What is Mentoring Month? The Alberta Mentoring Partnership presents #MentoringMonth in January 2020 to celebrate and raise awareness of mentoring across the province of Alberta. Get involved by becoming a caring mentor to a child in need, learning about mentoring resources and training, and growing mentoring programs in your community. 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

Did you know that your youth mentoring program actually acts as a protective factor against youth homelessness? In addition to the multitude of other positive academic and social outcomes that a quality mentoring relationship provides, the role of a mentor in growing natural supports and resilience in a young person was identified as an important Early Intervention in the recently released “ROADMAP FOR THE PREVENTION OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.” Join Director of Policy and Planning with A Way Home, David French, to learn more about how your mentoring contributes to a proactive approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness, how common outcomes can be valuable in helping all of us advance our work and the roadmap. The Roadmap for the Prevention of Youth Homelessness is designed to help service providers, policymakers, communities, advocates, researchers, and all people in Canada better understand the meaning of youth homelessness prevention. It provides a clear definition of youth homelessness prevention, a prevention typology, and a common language for policy and practice, outlining: What is youth homelessness prevention, and what isn’t it? Who is responsible for youth homelessness prevention? What are systems approaches to prevention? What program models and interventions exist? What is the evidence for youth homelessness prevention? The Roadmap is a useful guide to why and how prevention can contribute to a comprehensive system’s response to youth homelessness, detailing evidence-based and informed program models that can help communities and governments implement plans to prevent and end youth homelessness. The Roadmap has been directly informed by consultations with youth across Canada, who have experienced homelessness. To reform our response to youth homelessness, it is critical that youths’ voices, experiences, and insights are the cornerstone of the work. 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

Healthy habits and healthy relationships are essential for all youth, especially those with more complex needs. How does your mentoring program support wrap-around service supports, and how can you better work together with partners? The Forensic Adolescent Program is an Alberta Health Services program for adolescent youth who are involved in the legal system and have a mental health diagnosis. A team of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses and Recreation Therapists provide assessment and treatment with an aim to reduce the risk of recidivism in this population. The FAP Recreation Therapy Service works with clients to decrease mental, emotional, cognitive, and social limitations. This impacts their ability to engage freely in leisure and to maintain a healthy and balanced leisure lifestyle. This service is delivered largely through a formal mentorship program where trained and supported volunteers from the community offer their companionship and skills in assisting youth clients to discover themselves and the healthy recreational opportunities around them. About the Presenter: Mary Lee Block, Recreation Therapist ll, Forensic Adolescent Program Mary Lee holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alberta, in Recreation Administration and 40 years of experience in both public and private facilities in Calgary and abroad. Her career has been heavily weighted on the needs of adolescents with disabilities, illnesses and social conditions that limit their participation in the normative structure of society. She was the first Recreation Therapist to work in the FAP program and after 20 years still proudly refers to it as “work in progress.” Mary Lee believes that mentorship is the answer to the lion’s share of questions when referring to the young clients of FAP. Mary Lee Block, Recreation Therapist ll, Forensic Adolescent Program Mary Lee holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alberta, in Recreation Administration and 40 years of experience in both public and private facilities in Calgary and abroad. Her career has been heavily weighted on the needs of adolescents with disabilities, illnesses and social conditions that limit their participation in the normative structure of society. She was the first Recreation Therapist to work in the FAP program and after 20 years still proudly refers to it as “work in progress.” Mary Lee believes that mentorship is the answer to the lion’s share of questions when referring to the young clients of FAP. 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen on your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

Welcome to the Alberta Mentoring Partnership Mentoring Minute Podcast. In today’s episode, we are joined by Liz O’Neill who, among other roles, is a Co-Chair of the Alberta Mentoring Partnership, and Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area. Many of our listeners know Liz and have likely crossed paths along the journey with her. But for those of you who are new executive directors, new in your role, or new to the mentoring movement, this interview will have many gems for you to consider and reflect on in your work. Congratulations on hitting the big “40” milestone with your agency, Liz! We talk about many topics in today’s episode, including: – The future of the mentoring movement in Alberta – The importance of partnerships for mentoring programs – Volunteerism, serving more youth and growing programs sustainably. – Building shared purpose and cohesion among your board and staff team – Fundraising, government relations, and the importance of treating funders as partners – Celebrating your successes and telling your story We love sharing the wisdom of fascinating people and inspirational stories! If there is a person or program that you would like profiled by the Alberta Mentoring Partnership, nominate them to us at mentor.support@albertamentors.ca. 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen at your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

On today’s episode to the Alberta Mentoring Partnership Mentoring Minute Podcast, we feature a special cross-promotion of Mark Cabaj’s June 3rd, 2019 public lecture at the Art Gallery of Alberta called “Evaluating Complex Community-Based Initiatives: Emerging Practices” recorded by our friends at the Evaluation Capacity Network. If you don’t know Mark, you want to know Mark. He’s worked across Canada with the Tamarack Institute and many others as a leading voice in evaluation and knowledge mobilization. He’s an expert in complex systems and understands our challenges. More and more we are talking about how our mentoring work is a part of the complexity that is the world serving youth, and our outcomes can be affected by so many other competing factors going on in a young person’s life. Mark helps us unpack complexity, and I think that for any of you who are taking a moment to evaluate and reflect on how your program went this June and are looking ahead to the fall, you will want to take the hour to listen to Mark and think about your theory of change, your own strategic plan, and your personal program objectives. Thanks to the Evaluation Capacity Network for allowing us to cross-post this episode. www.evaluationcapacitynetwork.com/ Download Mark’s Presentation 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen at your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

What is Youth Workplace Mentoring? A Youth Workplace Mentoring Program (commonly referred to a Corporate Mentoring Program) is a relationship between a mentoring organization and a business that results in the creation of a Youth Workplace Mentoring Program between employees and kids. The program offers mentoring organizations the opportunity to recruit employees as volunteer mentors and gives businesses a means to engage employees and build the brand’s identity while giving back to the community. This booklet is designed to be completed in as little as one hour on your own or as a group activity with your team at your next staff, board, or team meeting. We recommend colleague collaboration when starting this exercise. You can download the workbook here. View The Recording 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen at your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

What can your mentoring program learn about Intergenerational Programming? With changing demographics and ageing populations, more and more Alberta citizens are aging, and looking for a way to create strong, thriving and age-friendly communities. What can your mentoring program learn from existing successful Intergenerational programs? How can you support your youth and senior mentors to share their gifts and experiences across generations? Hear what the LINKages team has to say, a Calgary-based intergenerational organization for a conversation about the ins and outs of creating impactful intergenerational programming. You can download LINKages 2018/19 Annual Report here View The Recording 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen at your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

Scott Grace recently joined us at AMP Learning Day and helped challenge us with thoughtful tips and insights gained from front line service. The webinar format will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions, so feel free to review his presentation link below and get ready for an exciting, interactive dialogue! PRISM (Pride, Respect, Identity, Safety, Mentoring) PRISM mentoring connects mentors and young people from the LGBTQ2S+ community. These mentoring relationships help young people to achieve goals, overcome challenges and try new things. A mentor understands the adversity faced by LGBTQ2S+ young people, supports the mentee and celebrates who they are. Research suggests that access to caring adults can help to buffer negative health and behavioural risks for LGBTQ2S+ youth. These youth have also identified that they need access to caring adults who accept and affirm their identities, give guidance, and connect them to needed resources. Given the multiple barriers that LGBTQ2S+ youth face a program that supports them in finding caring adults is essential. View The Recording: 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen at your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

Quality mentoring is mentoring that produces significant, lasting, positive outcomes for mentees. It is responsible, ethical, effective mentoring. Mentoring programs come in all shapes and sizes, but some key components help to ensure excellence and that the needs of the mentee, volunteer mentor, organization and community are fulfilled. This document contains steps to support the development and implementation of a community-based mentoring program. These steps are primarily generic and are intended to support a range of different kinds of programs. Each of the steps has specific resources attached to help you move forward in your program design and implementation.  View The Recording: 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen at your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

Adolescence often is characterized as a health paradox because it is a time of extensive increases in physical and mental capabilities, yet mortality and injury rates increase significantly from childhood to adolescence. In fact, the adolescent years may be a sensitive time for engagement in health-risk behaviours (e.g., substance use, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, risky sexual activity), which can have life-long repercussions. The question of why adolescents seem predisposed to engage in health-risk behaviours is age-old; however, recent work in the field of developmental neuroscience has provided new insights into this phenomenon by suggesting that brain maturation and the fact that neural connections among brain regions continues to develop throughout adolescence and into young adulthood might play a key role – resulting in unique vulnerabilities and opportunities for youth. The Brock Healthy Youth Project (BHYP), is a research project being led by a transdisciplinary team of researchers that aims to provide a window into adolescent brain development and health-risk taking. Specifically, BHYP is a collaborative effort dedicated to longitudinally examine health-risk behaviours across adolescence though investigating interactions among brain activity, genetics, endocrine status, physical activity, personality, and environmental factors. Tune in to this podcast to learn more about the BHYP study, their findings, and their research path. Following the presentation by Jayne Morrish, (Knowledge Mobilization Officer, Brock University, Centre for Lifespan Development Research) we will further explore the role that mentoring has as a protective factor in support of better outcomes for vulnerable youth. View the Recording You can view the other webinar recordings here Other Resources Become a Partner of the Alberta Mentoring Partnership: https://albertamentors.ca/partner AMP YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1jzKjk121I6JjmvwOpPQow Visit the Alberta Mentoring Partnership – https://albertamentors.ca 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen at your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

Are you interested in taking your corporate partnerships to the next level? Are you interested in how to get a corporate mentoring program started with a partner in your community? Are you interested in growing your relationship with existing partners but not sure where to begin? For this webinar we have brought together a Mentoring Agency, A Bank and a Church to discuss how you can expand and grow your mentoring impact. Join our Corporate Mentoring Podcast and hear from Brianna Berthaume, Jonathan Murphy and Laurie Whitaker on discussing new opportunities to grow your partnerships and create new mentoring champions in your community. Important Topics Covered on Partnering Your Mentoring Program With a Corporate Partner Brianna Berthaume Team Lead and Youth in Care Program Coordinator Big Brothers Big Sisters of Red Deer Why are you passionate about mentoring? What makes for a successful partnership from the perspective of a mentoring agency? What do you wish you knew before starting a partnership? How did you identify a champion within the partnership? What are some of the partnerships that you are exploring? Jonathan Murphy Manager of Commercial Banking Canadian Western Bank CWB Why are you passionate about mentoring How did you get connected with the Red Deer Youth Centre? What makes for a successful partnership in the eyes of CWB? How did you champion the partnership within CWB? What advice would you give to a mentoring agency contemplating approaching a partner? Laurie Whitaker – Director of Local Initiatives Crossroads Church in Red Deer Why are you passionate about mentoring How did you get connected with the Red Deer Youth Centre? What makes for a successful partnership in the eyes of Crossroads? How did you champion the partnership within Crossroads? What advice would you give to a mentoring agency contemplating approaching a faith organization? What difference has it made within your congregation? Other Resources Corporate Mentoring Program Toolkit: http://albertamentors.ca/corporate-mentoring/ Become a Partner of the Alberta Mentoring Partnership: http://albertamentors.ca/partner AMP YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1jzKjk121I6JjmvwOpPQow Visit Alberta Mentoring Partnership – http://albertamentors.ca 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen at your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com

In this episode of the mentoring Minute we speak with four expert youth in care mentoring practitioners: Jenni Carrier – Big Brother Big Sisters of Calgary Brianna Berthaume – Youth and Volunteer Centre Red Deer Krista Allan – Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton Joey Shaughnessy –  Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton There are more than 8000 children and youth in care in Alberta. While research on the impact of mentoring for this population is at an early stage, studies have shown that healthy relationships created through formal mentoring programs can positively impact social, emotional, and academic functioning for children and youth in care. – Government of Alberta (November, 2013). Child intervention statistics – 2008/9 to 2012/13 AMP, its Children and Youth in Care Mentoring Pilot Program and its agency partners also make mentorship a success. These agencies include: Boys and Girls Clubs and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area Red Deer Youth and Volunteer Centre Do you know a youth or youth in care who could benefit from mentorship? Or, do you want to become a mentor? If so, contact the Alberta Mentoring Partnership for more information. Important Topics Covered on Youth in Care: 1:35 – How are Youth in Care Defined? 1:54 – Why is Mentoring Important for Youth in Care? 2:09 – How Does Mentoring Help Youth in Care? 2:51 – What is the Length of a Youth in Care Mentoring Relationship? 3:26 – What Makes an Effective Youth in Care Mentor? 4:19 – What Sort of Individual  Background Makes an Effective Youth in Care Mentor? 4:52 – What is the Impact of Mentoring on Young People’s Success 6:00 – What are Some Stories From the Youth in Care Mentoring Field? 7:51 – How can you Become a Youth in Care Mentor? 9:00 – Where Should the Youth in Care Pilot Programs in Alberta go From Here? Other Resources Become a Partner of the Alberta Mentoring Partnership: http://albertamentors.ca/partner AMP YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1jzKjk121I6JjmvwOpPQow Register now for the National Mentoring Symposium.: nmsevent.ca Visit Alberta Mentoring Partnership – http://albertamentors.ca 1) How to Subscribe (and leave us a review!) Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Sticher Subscribe on Google Play 2) How to listen at your computer: 3) Credits Learn more at albertamentors.ca Background Music: www.bensound.com