Chat Group Information!!!

Mentor Reminder: 

We have some new guidelines  for 

2 Chat Group Training's Required Per Year!

Ongoing training directly impacts the quality and outcomes of mentoring relationships. It motivates you as a mentor, helps you handle the challenges that arise in your mentor relationship, lets you know you have support from staff, and allows you to talk with other mentors To this end, all mentors are required to attend a minimum of 2 chat sessions over the course of a calendar year. This is not optional.   You need to document your chat attendance using your mentor portal.  

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Hooray it is here - the Chat Topic you have been asking for:

Truancy and Educational Neglect

We are delighted to welcome Beth Kaler and Ryan Miller from Dakota County Truancy as well as Kristie Janusch from Dakota County Social Services.  Beth, Ryan and Kristie will share their considerable experience and wealth of knowledge through a power point presentation on:

- what happens when a student does not go to school?

- what are the differences between elementary and secondary school refusal

-what are the laws for school attendance?

- can the county compel attendance?

- are there tips for mentors to support families and encourage their mentees away from school refusal?

- what are some causes of educational neglect or truancy or avoidance?

The presentation will be followed by a lively discussion among mentors celebrating successes and seeking support for challenges with their matches.

Details:

Register with us now!  email Rita at rykinship@aol.com to let us know you can join us!

Date:  Thursday February 9 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm

Location:  Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Avenue, Apple Valley MN  55124

Room:  L139 (this is to your left after you come through the main entrance, down a hallway - We will have a sign out)

Snacks:  We will have waters and snacks for everyone

We sought the expertise on School Refusal because some of our mentees have been dealing with this.  Even if you are not dealing with this right now, you can be prepared and in the know.  These three staff from the county are top notch and you will gain a lot of knowledge!  Plus you will learn from and share with other mentors.

Please remember that we now require attendance at a minimum of TWO Chat Training's annually.  Let's get the New Year started off well!

Online Chat Option

Hello Mentors!

Please click on the links below for some valuable information regarding Teens and Holiday stress! . We can all feel stress and anxiety when it comes to holidays but when you are a teenager, at times it can be overwhelming. Money (or lack of), family dynamics and expectations can leave anyone feeling a bit out of sorts!   Coping is hard when you've had years of experience but your mentee is new to this and having some tools in your basket to guide them can be very helpful this time of year!!


Please click and watch or read the links below and then leave me a comment with your name and something you learned or will try in the upcoming holiday season or even add your own suggestion or example of what you have done!  

http://drgailgross.com/videos/dr-gail-gross-on-helping-teens-cope-with-holiday-stress/

http://www.today.com/parents/how-help-your-kid-beat-holiday-blues-1D80379074

http://mha-triad.org/2nd-art-holiday_tips.htm

https://kinshippartnersmn.wordpress.com/2016/12/08/its-that-time-of-year-5-self-care-tips-for-navigating-holiday-stress/

Happy Holidays!!!
Melynda

Chat Groups

One of the significant things Kids 'n Kinship offers our mentors for on going support is quarterly times to get together and meet other mentors (without your mentee) and to get training about issues our children and families are facing. 

Last week we had a great Kids 'n Kinship Chat Group with 25 volunteers, mentors and mentees! Wells Fargo Bank volunteers presented:
Money skills you need for life - - An engaging and easy way to learn financial basics and smart money management including:
Where does money come from/how does it circulate through banks and society?
Measuring value - is it worth buying?
Budgeting and putting yourself in control of your money
Examples of real life money issues
Education and earning money

  

It was a wonderful interactive session!​ Mentors commented on how important the information is and that is was a great setting to learn with other mentors and mentees. Typically in our Chat Groups, mentors have lots of opportunity to learn from one another, sharing what works and what doesn't, hot tips on fun and free activities, communication with parents and encouraging interaction with mentees. Mentors tell us and staff witness how much we learn from one another!​

One staff member had this to say about our chat sessions:
"Chat Groups are one of our favorite trainings because mentors tell us they get so much out of it when they learn from other mentors. One mentor found out about creating a scavenger hunt; another mentor got tips on budgeting money and activities with their mentee; and several shared ideas on connecting with parents and guardians in positive ways. Chat Groups are one of the best ways for mentors to experience ongoing training and get renewed motivation for mentoring!"  


While we offer four chat groups a year, mentors commit to attend 2 in order to further their ongoing training  - though many of our mentors attend all - which is great!


Please look for upcoming chats and make sure to subscribe to the blog for more information!!

Emotional Intellegence

It has been said that "emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success"

 (source)

Have you heard the term emotional intelligence? Are you curious? Do you know what it means?

e·mo·tion·al in·tel·li·gence (noun)
the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.

Simply put:emotional intelligence is your individual ability to identify, manage, and express your emotions, and to identify and empathize with the emotions of others.

How does having it improve your life? Is it something that you’re just born with? Can you learn it? Does it matter? Yes, I think it does. I believe that it positively effects your self-esteem, your physical health, your mental health, your job performance, and enhances your relationships.

While heightened emotional intelligence isn’t a requirement to grow in life, it certainly helps with a lot of significant areas. And, I would argue, that emotional intelligence is becoming increasingly beneficial as our world turns more and more towards technology.

Emotional intelligence can be broken down into four primary skill sets:

Emotional Awareness (or self-awareness): being aware of your own emotions, moment to moment, and understanding how your emotions influence your thoughts and behavioral choices
Emotional Management (or self-management): being able to shift, manage, and consciously suppress your emotions when necessary.
Social awareness: being aware of the emotional realities of others.
Relationship management: knowing how to develop and maintain healthy personal relationships with others

Want to see what yours might be?  Go here to download a quiz !!

Download the form and see yours!! Try it with your mentee too!! Are they similar?

Additional information found at here and here

The Power of Pizza

Ok, not really pizza power, but the power of food and getting together to share a meal as a way of connection. Last month a group of mentors sat down outside to share their stories with each other in the hopes that talking about things would help them learn what others were doing,  And it did just this- but it accomplished so very much more!  As stories were shared and "pass the pizza " was heard, the mentors began to share ideas and ways to connect with their mentees.  Over and over we heard "me too!" Which is such a compelling connection point, we realize we have something to give to others, as well as we are not alone.  And meeting outside, well that was an added bonus!!

Did you know?

Did you know? The story of Mentor comes from Homer's Odyssey. Odysseus, king of Ithaca, fights in the Trojan War and entrusts the care of his household to Mentor, who serves as teacher and overseer of Odysseus' son, Telemachus.

The definition of a mentor, according to Merriam Webster is:
noun men·tor \ˈmen-ˌtȯr, -tər\
1capitalized : a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son Telemachus
2a : a trusted counselor or guide

Which brings us to the question, what is the role of a mentor today? Here are some ideas to think about:

· Be a friend, not a parent or authority figure. Mentors are trusted guides helping young people make positive decisions, form their own values, and realize their potential.


· Have realistic goals and expectations.Mentors understand that change doesn’t happen overnight and that setbacks occur.


· Have fun. Getting to know the young person is the primary goal of any mentoring relationship. Activities such as hanging out, grabbing a bite to eat, or playing basketball, help build the relationship.


· Allow the mentee to have voice and choice in deciding on activities. Ask your mentee what he or she would like to do during your time together. This ensures that the young person will be interested and engaged in the activity.


· Be positive. Offer encouragement and assistance. When times are tough, help the young person focus on the future. Celebrate successes large and small.


· Let the mentee control the direction of conversations. Don’t push the mentee to tell you everything at once; allow him or her time to get to know you. Be sensitive and respectful and above all keep everything the mentee says to you confidential (unless the youth plans to hurt herself or someone else).


· Listen. Sometimes the young person will need to vent about school, work, home, or friends. By listening more than talking you can learn a lot and build your relationship.


· Respect the trust the mentee places in you. Don’t judge the mentee or provide unwanted advice. Reassure him that you will be there no matter what.


· Remember that your relationship is with the young person, not his or her parent. The focus of the match is on the youth’s goals, not those of the family. At the same time, avoid passing judgment on the mentee’s family.


· Remember that you are responsible for building the relationship. Take the initiative to keep in contact with your mentee.

(Excerpt from http://youthbuildmentoringalliance.org/content/tips-being-great-mentor)

It's been a year!!

WOW!  I have been at Kids 'n Kinship a year!

In some ways it seems longer, and in other ways it feels like yesterday.

In the past year I have learned so much about my self and met so many spectacular kids,  mentors and volunteers!  Here are my definitions for some of the people I encounter daily:

Kids: resilient.  I am amazed by the resiliency of the kids I have the privilege of working with. Some who, by all rights should be angry at what life has handed them, yet often they are not.  That are just looking to find their way in this world and need some assistance from another caring adult, which is where our mentors come it!  

Mentors: fun.  The extraordinary grown ups that share their time, their life, their family and their heart with a young person and end up gaining so much more than just a friendship.

Volunteers: giving. The fabulous adults that band together and create committees to organize and run our events that  raise money to support what they believe in!

I am very lucky to be able to watch people's lives grow and change in so many different ways, my own included!!