Readiness for program development assumes that your organization has conducted some pre-program preparations that have led you to make a clear commitment to implementing a mentoring program. These preparations include; a) identification of and endorsement by key stakeholders, b) identification and commitment of the resources (human and financial) that will be put towards it, c) a formal or informal feasibility study that identifies the issues, potential obstacles and opportunities for a program such as this; and d) identification of key project development and implementation personnel.

While it is not recommended that you require mentors and mentees to pay for their participation, there may be some reasons that you find it necessary to charge a fee. You will want to look at all the angles of this decision before you get started, as requiring a fee could limit the ability of some to participate.

By clarifying these critical needs first, you will be ready to take the next steps. Below is an outline of the program development process. You can connect to each major group by either clicking on the outlined item or by using the menu at left.

Program Basics

• Your target audiences
  
  
• Developing program goals
  
  
• Understanding your intended outcomes
  
  
• Timelines and participant numbers
  
  
• Creating an organizing committee
  
  
• Determining the organizing committee's role

Mentors and Mentees

• The qualities and qualifications of a good mentor candidate
  
  
• The qualities and qualifications of a good mentee candidate

Applications

• The mentor and mentee applications
  
  
• Establishing a selection criteria
  
  
• How do we train and orient our new mentors and mentees?

Recruitment, Application Review, Selection and Matching

• Candidate recruitment
  
  
• Application review and candidate selection
  
  
• Mentor and mentee matching
  
  
• Creating the partnership contract
  
  
• Mismatched pairs

Orientation and Training

• Preparing your participants for success
  
  
• Creating a training session agenda
  
  
• Training topics to cover
  
  
• Important reminders

Program Oversight

• Periodic check-in
  
  
• Mid-Point Gatherings
  
  
• Program completion

Evaluation

• Exit surveys

Resources

Tip Sheets and Templates

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