How to Develop and Implement a Mentoring Program

How to Develop and Implement a Mentoring Program Elaine Castelluccio, PT, MSCS Director, Disability Program Independence Care System 2019 Annual Meeting of the CMSC

Objectives • Participants will understand the practical steps needed to develop and implement a peer mentorship program for people living with MS

THE MANY ROLES OF A MENTOR Friend Encourager Guide Advisor Helper Coach Self-Esteem Booster Role Model Peer Mentor Confidant Sounding board Listener Big Brother Wise Teacher Companion Motivator Information Provider

What is Peer Mentoring? A process in which an individual who is a "veteran" of a specific life experience or their family member helps another person cope with a similar life event. • Trained mentors are matched with partners living in the community and/or an extended care facility • Goals of expanding community integration and enhancing well being • Effective buffer for stress • Increases personal empowerment/belief in ability to succeed.

Why have a Peer Mentorship Program? • People living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are one of the highest risk groups for depression of all physical disabilities. • • Higher rates of depression Less social, increased loneliness and risk for health complications. Often home bound due to accessibility issues or fear/lack of desire to leave Unable to utilize resources in the community

Why have a Peer Mentorship Program at ICS? ICS has committed to use transportation to: • Assist members to get out of house to socialize with mentor or • Assist mentor to come to members home

Getting your Program Started • Front end questions: – What organization will assume the lead responsibility – What other collaborators will be partnering – How much will the program cost and how will it be funded – Where (or how) will you conduct the activities? – What resources do you have to contribute to the initiative? – Will any equipment or technology be needed – Liability/confidentiality issues involved and how will they be handled Peer Mentoring Implementation Guide. Partners for Youth with Disabilities, 2018 A Community Based Peer Mentoring Program for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury, The SCI Model System Program, Mount Sinai, NY, 2005

Implementation Plan • Shape your vision: – What will be the scope of your program – Who will be the key person(s) to implement – What skills do they need to facilitate – What tasks need to be done to develop and implement a mentor program – How will you plan to recruit mentors and partners – What is a realistic timeline to move from vision to actual program – How will you know it is effective? – How do you want to disseminate results?

Implementation Plan: Resources • Project Staff: Coordinator • Peer Mentors, mentees • Graphic Designer: social media, marketing tools • Technology for training and outreach Selection and determination requirements for who will be in these roles.

Implementation Plan: Budget Considerations • Mentor Related Costs: – Typically mentors serve as volunteers – Paid full time or part-time coordinator – Reimburse for program expenses for the mentors Cost of mentor phone calls Cost of” travel” - person to person contact Cost of technology – very low tech needs Financial incentives: thank you gift cards, stipends if complete all required paperwork for quality assurance • Mentor reunions, gatherings, advanced training • •

Funding Sources • State-wide Independent Living Centers (ILCs) • Meet with hospital and rehab program administrators – any funds available • Private foundations interested in community outreach

Liability Concerns • Ensure that your agency's liability policy covers volunteer activities within the community. • Insist on careful screening of mentors and partners to insure their "readiness"and “appropriateness” to engage in a peer mentoring process. • Require that all mentors undergo focused training on the mentoring process.

Implementation Plan • Major tenants of this program: – coordinator(s) need to be individual living with a physical disability – Mentors are required to participate in training workshop – Mentors are provided ongoing support by mentor coordinator for the duration of all partnerships – Consult with stakeholders across the community (local MS chapters)

Implementation Plan: Engagement of Community • • Community sponsors Collaborators Recruit advocates Host learning sessions

Program Evaluation • Purpose: – Documentation that the mentoring program is meeting its goals and providing – Understanding for whom the mentoring program works or does not work. – Pro-active corrections to the program resulting in program improvement. – Identification of other (and often unexpected) needs in your community. – Positioning your program to request funding for future program expansion.

Program Evaluation • Types of outcomes to collect: – Program Satisfaction surveys – Advisory committee data – Focus group data • Examples of validated questionnaires: – – Acceptance of Disability Scale Life Satisfaction Scale Mc. Gill Quality of Life Depression Anxiety Stress Scale Louisa et al; Outcomes of a Peer Support Program in Multiple Sclerosis In an Australian Community, 2013

Continuity of Mentoring Program • • Keeping the program alive Must stay visable and viable Network Newsletters Focus groups Ongoing development sessions “Mentor Reunions” Social gatherings

History of the ICS Peer Mentorship Program Mentor: • • • A person with SCI or MS Successfully adjusted to living with injury/diagnosis Trained/committed to sharing their knowledge and experience Can provide a new social network Knowledgeable about coping strategies, self-management, and SCI/MS resources. Not trained health care professionals/do not provide clinical services. Peers: • People with SCI/MS who are enrolled in the ICS Peer-Mentor Program.

Community Peer Mentoring Partnerships • Collaboration with the Mount Sinai Peer Mentoring Program and Jim Cesario, their Mentor Coordinator. • Grant from the NYC Spinal chapter of United Spinal Association • Collaboration with the Axis Project staff in identifying mentors and support of the program. • Mentor training manuals adapted from United Spinal and Mt Sinai

Scope of ICS Peer Mentoring Built upon the fundamental belief that all people have strengths. A strength based approach: • Does not ignore the challenges or problems • Shift from what cannot be done to what CAN be achieved.

Goals of the Peer-Mentor Program • • • Help individuals cope with their SCI/MS Assist in preventing secondary medical complications Guide discovery in new ways to live healthy, active lives Support in setting and achieving SMART Goals. Improve quality of life outcomes

Benefits of Peer Mentoring: for Peers • Interact with someone who has successfully adjusted to their physical disability • Learn and improve life skills • Talk with someone with similar life experiences • Develop/expand effective support systems • Gain knowledge about practical issues such as accessibility, and the use of adaptive technology

Benefits of Peer Mentoring: for Families • Meet a person with SCI/MS who has made a successful adjustment • A reliable source of information and resources • Someone with whom they can share their concerns, fears, hopes, and questions • Education resources to learn the practicalities of living with SCI/MS

Benefits of Peer Mentoring: for Mentors • • Give back in return for something they received Opportunities to “get by giving. ” Feel that their struggles had a purpose Support a cause that is important to them Develop/expand effective support systems Become part of a large group with a shared interest Improve interpersonal and communication skills Acquire new knowledge

Recruiting Potential Mentors and Partners • Disability community bulletins • Flyers • Meeting with local agencies and community partners • Meeting with MS clinics, and MS providers, MS Society

Ideal Candidates for Peer Mentoring • Recognize their need for support. • Able to understand their own boundaries and mentoring program limitations • Available to receive phone calls (or alternative means of communication) at prearranged times • Able to adhere to these commitments.

Program Exclusion Criteria • Expressing suicidal or violent behavior, severe depression and/or serious psychiatric or substance abuse problems. • Unable to articulate specific reasons for wanting peer support. • Referred to the program but have no personal interest or investment in receiving peer support. • Excessively negative, angry, or volatile during the screening interview. • Looking solely for "friendship" or a "romantic relationship". • Interested solely in "talking to someone" with no desire to change current life situation or behaviors. • Emotional challenges that are beyond the ability of a mentor to handle.

If Member is not ready for mentoring program or does not meet inclusion criteria…. • Refer to alternative services either within ICS or outside agencies: – – • • Support groups Private counseling MS Society United Spinal Provide appropriate resource materials to members as needed. According to United Spinal Association, approximately one third of individuals referred to be potential partners are inappropriate for the peer mentoring program. These individuals typically are referred to other types of community resources and professionals for needed treatment and services. (United Spinal, 2007).

Mentor Coordinator • • • Recruits mentors and partners Screens, trains, and matches mentors and partners Provides ongoing technical assistance/support to the mentors Maintains the partnerships Assists in closing partnerships Collects information and outcome data

Recruitment of Potential Mentors Two-step process, repeated: 1. Initially, a pool of mentors is recruited and trained. • Mentor Intake Form 2. Cyclical recruitment in response to need for additional mentors Partner recruitment is ongoing.

Goals of Mentor Training • Overview of peer mentoring concept and process • Relay importance of follow-up and support in the mentoring process • Define scope and limitations of their roles as mentors • Enhance skills needed to perform in their roles • Discuss challenges for individuals and family members living with SCI or MS • Provide resources to share with potential partners • Address questions and concerns • Build confidence ability to provide peer support to others

Mentoring Training: workshop activities 1. Introductions 2. Getting to know your fellow mentors 3. Overview of Peer Mentoring Program 4. Mentor contacts role plays 5. Enhancing communication skills 6. Practicing communication skills 7. Review of mentor training workbook content 8. Workshop wrap-up

Sample of Tools Used in Training • • • Active Listening Tactful questioning Affirming Strengths Setting realistic SMART goals Staying neutral

Overview of the Program Care Compass: Request a Peer Mentor Assessment Chart Review: Meet Inclusion criteria? Pre-Partner Survey Mentor Coordinator matches partners Mentors Enrolled: ICS Training Program

Overview of the Program Cont. Partners meet face to face Pre- and Post Partnership surveys Mentors establish ongoing phone contact Mentors keep track of contact with partners Partnerships last a minimum of 6 months Peer coordinator provides mentors ongoing support

Pre & Post-Partnership Survey: Acceptance of Disability Scale. Journal of

Outcome Data : UAS & Quality of Life Survey • Pre and Post survey results • UAS data: a. withdrawal from activities of interest b. reduced social interactions c. decreased participation of social activities of long standing interest d. lonely

Helpful Resources • National Disability Mentoring Coalition. • https: //www. christopherreeve. org/getsupport/get-a-peer-mentor • https: //www. ilru. org/sites/default/files/Peer_Su pport. pdf Building an Effective Peer Support Program course: National Counsel on Independent Living (NCIL) • National MS Society Peer Mentoring Program https: //www. nationalmssociety. org/Resources. Support/Find-Support/Connect-with-Peers-Oneon-One

The Benefits we have seen at ICS • Let me introduce one of our original mentors and member: Cathy Mc. Fadden