With the events of the last couple of weeks, we want to extend another huge thank you for the ways you are working in your relationships to elevate the voices of our mentees and families. We want to make sure you feel supported, and that our black students and families feel seen and heard. Please reach out to your mentor coach if you need anything regarding recent events OR COVID.
We sent an email two weeks ago and we wanted to provide some official guidance and next steps for our Intentional Mentoring Community. Please know that we will continue to follow guidance from the CDC and other governmental agencies and will send you updates about changes as necessary.
Any questions or concerns should be brought to your mentor coaches. As we move into this time, we maintain the perspective that our response will always be out of care for our mentees, families, and community.
We are including the expected guidelines so you can begin to move back to in-person mentoring as you see fit. The expectation is still to be in quality communication with your mentee because your relationship matters.
In-Person Mentoring will begin with the following guidelines:
- Mentors must be comfortable resuming in-person mentoring. The mentor should not have COVID related symptoms or have been exposed to a confirmed case in the last 2 weeks. If they are not comfortable or either of the above are true, they can relay this to the family. If they would like wording from Intentional Mentoring as they share this with the family, they can ask their mentor coach and decide on the next steps.
- Mentors must speak with students and families to confirm comfort level before resuming any in-person mentoring. If they would like support in this, we can help reach out to families, but we encourage that it comes from the mentor because of their relational level. This conversation should confirm that the mentee and family have not had COVID related symptoms or been exposed to any confirmed cases in the last 2 weeks.
- Mentors must wear a face mask out of care for our mentees and families. Mentees can wear a mask if they would like (we can provide for either mentor or mentee a mask if needed- please ask your coach). Mentors should ask mentees if they would like one.
- We encourage frequent hand-washing and avoidance of face-touching.
- Mentors should suggest unpopulated, outside areas for mentor meet-ups. If mentors need help coming up with ideas, they should speak with their mentor coach.
- Mentors should try to find activities based on student interests (to support positive summer activity). We will be launching a Doorstep Interest Box soon to help support positive summer activities. You should be on the lookout for more information. However, if students are coming up with things they would like to do, you can share with us and we will craft a box with supplies related to their interest and ideas for activities to do with the support of their mentor. We will try to incorporate some sort of challenge in these boxes that will be dropped at their doorsteps. The challenges will hopefully help positive engagement during the summer.
Once again, thanks for all you do, and please let your mentor coach know if you have any questions or concerns!
Best,
Katie Mae and the Intentional Mentoring Team