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Youth Mentoring update - April 2015

16 Apr 15

April 2015 - Youth Mentoring update

Kia Ora everyone

We hope you had a safe and enjoyable Easter break.  For those of you who were unable to attend distinguished visitor, Professor Toni Zimmerman's presentations in person we are pleased to be able to offer you the opportunity to listen to the Professor's Auckland presentation. In this update, we also highlight two professional development opportunities with places still available on our Wellington MentorPlus workshop and registrations are still open for The Collaborative's 7th Annual Hui being held in Christchurch at the end of next week.  We have included a link to some insightful new research on mentoring in the digital age, and finally, if you have not already done so, we encourage you to consider registering your youth mentoring programme on our website. Knowing about your programme enables us to be more effective when responding to requests to find mentors for young people in need of support. It also helps us connect people wanting to become a mentor to a young person, with programmes in their local communities.

On behalf of the NZ Youth Mentoring Network, thank you for your support.  

'Changing the trajectory of young people's lives through mentoring'


Listen to Professor Toni Zimmerman's presentation on mentoring at risk youth

Prof Toni Zimmerman

It was really good to see so many of you at Distinguished visitor Professor Toni Zimmerman's presentations in Wellington and Auckland last month.  The NZYMN welcomed the opportunity to co-host these presentations with the University of Auckland, Faculty of Education.  Thank you to Dr. Pat Bullen and the University of Auckland for sponsoring the Professor's visit. 

For those of you who were unable to attend in person we are pleased to be able to offer you the opportunity to listen to the Professor's Auckland presentation. 

The link to the Audio is at the bottom of webpage that opens here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/news-events-and-notices/news/news-2015/03/youth-mentoring-expert-to-talk-at-parliament-and-the-university-.html

 The presentation is approximately one hour in duration and concludes just before the end of the Q&A session.  Prof. Zimmerman is a very accomplished and engaging public speaker and does not use many slides during her presentation. You may therefore find it valuable to scroll through the excellent introductory power point presentation from the home page of the Colorado State University Campus Corps webpage while listening to her speak. http://www.hdfs.chhs.colostate.edu/students/undergraduate/campuscorps/

The main focus of the Professor’s presentation is the Campus Corps youth mentoring model she and her colleagues developed in response to an identified community need to better serve at-risk youth.  The young people being referred to Campus Corps from Youth Justice, Social Services agencies and schools are presenting with some of the most challenging behavioural and mental health issues.  The mentoring model has a unique three-pronged approach to address their specific needs: 

·       One-on-one mentoring

·       Mentoring pairs also engage in group-based activities, and 

·       Family Therapists are onsite to support youth as needed.

The programme has been running for about six years now and is achieving some very promising outcomes. Research results show that among the youth that attend Campus Corps, thereis  improvement in the following areas:  

·       Reduced truancy

·       Reduced substance use

·       Reduced delinquent behavior

·       Improved attitudes about substance use, and

·       Improved psychological well being.

Participation in the programme for the mentors is also showing some very positive results and is associated with 63% lower odds of dropping out of university in any given year.  Student mentors reported:

·       Improved leadership skills

·       Improved ability to manage stress

·       Increased self-awareness

·       Expanded commitment to civic action, and 

·       Enriched interpersonal skills

Professor Zimmerman’s experiences certainly highlight important strategies for working effectively with vulnerable youth. More specifically how to: sustain matches; engage in safe group-based activities; support youth autonomy; and provide therapy in the moment. The Campus Corps model  also highlights the benefits of youth mentoring as a service learning activity. Since Professor Zimmerman’s visit there has been significant interest in the Campus Corps model. A team of academics and government officials are currently exploring how this model could be adapted and implemented here in Aotearoa. The NZYMN is delighted with the interest generated from Professor Zimmerman’s presentations and will continue to keep you informed of any progress.


Wellington MentorPlus Workshop 18 and 19 May 2015 - places still available!  

This is an excellent workshop opportunity for people working with young people, who need to add a mentoring dimension to their role.

During the two day course attendees will learn key skills in:

  • communicating effectively with a young person
  • managing risk & behaviour when working with a young person
  • helping young people explore their identity and culture, and
  • assisting personal development

Comments from previous attendees:

"The workshop is really practical. It taught me how to talk with our mentees more effectively and ask the right questions."

"It gave me really useful activities that we can use with our mentees."

"I really enjoyed sharing korero with workmates and looking at the theory behind how we work with young people."  

Date:  18 and 19 May 2015
Location:  Ara Taiohi,  Level 3 / 148 Cuba St / Te Aro / Wellington
Cost:  $380 plus GST (discounts offered when sending more than one person from your organisation)

register online


The Collaborative Trust 7th Annual Research Hui 23 / 24 April - registrations still open!

collaborative hui_opt (1)

23-24 April 2015 at Rydges Latimer Square, Christchurch.
The Collaborative for Research and Training in Youth Health and Development (The Collaborative Trust) is pleased to announce our 7th Annual Research Hui.

The theme of “Applying a Framework for Youth-Wellbeing” will build on the momentum gained in our 2014 hui aimed at creating connections between people working with young people in order to enhance healthy youth development. 

Please go online to find your registration form, full Hui programme and more information www.collaborative.org.nz


Mentoring and social media:  New research guides policy and practice

The results of this United States based study suggest that the use of digital media across mentoring relationships is widespread and the reports authors recommend that programme providers create a written digital and social media policy.

http://chronicle.umbmentoring.org/mentoring-and-social-media-new-research-guides-policy-and-practice/

In summary, digital media is widely used among mentors and mentees of formal mentoring programs. Our findings show that this media use does not seem to detract from the closeness and quality of face-to-face mentoring relationships, but may actually supplement and strengthen them. In order to derive the maximum benefits of digital media communication, as well as prevent any harmful usage, it seems important to address the lack of consistency with which programs communicate guidelines and administer ongoing training to mentors and mentees on media use. Moreover, it may be helpful to engage youth themselves in training mentors and program staff on media use to create an environment of reciprocity and mutuality, and reduce the chance of shaming and patronizing youth regarding the technology they are in some ways more adept with using than are the digital immigrant adults who mentor them


Register your Youth Mentoring programme on our website today!

Last year we announced a key initiative to commence a nationwide mapping of the youth mentoring sector in New Zealand. Thank you to everyone that has taken the opportunity to registered their mentoring programmes on our website to-date.  Each additional programme listed enables us to be more effective when responding to parents and caregivers, social workers and school counsellors asking for help to find mentors for young people under their care. It also helps us connect prospective volunteer mentors with programmes in their local communities.  

Complete the online form today.  It will only take you about 10 to 15 minutes. Throughout the form there are helpful hints and explanations. If you have any questions please contact Nicki McDonald, E| nicki@youthmentoring.org.nz.


Please pass this e-newsletter on to others in your community who work with young people and have an interest in mentoring.  

Nicki Mcdonald_opt

Nicki McDonald

General Manager New Zealand Youth Mentoring Network | PO Box 99726 Newmarket | M: 027 520 2981| W: 09 521 8240| E: nicki@youthmentoring.org.nz | W: www.youthmentoring.org.nz

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17 Dec 20:Youth Mentoring - Season's Greetings from the NZ Youth Mentoring Network
27 Oct 20:Youth Mentoring - Spring update
20 Jul 20:Youth Mentoring - July 2020 update
12 Dec 19:Seasons greetings from NZYMN
07 May 19:May 2019 update
06 Mar 19:March 2019 update
14 Dec 18:Season's Greetings from NZYMN
09 Aug 18:August e-news
16 Jul 18:Involve 2018 - three exciting announcements
09 Jul 18:July update
10 May 18:May e-news update
22 Feb 18:February e-news
19 Dec 17:Seasons greetings from the NZ Youth Mentoring Network
29 Aug 17:August e-news
06 Jul 17:July e-news
14 Jun 17:June e-news update
25 May 17:May e-news
20 Apr 17:Invitation - Professor Renée Spencer - Youth Initiated Mentoring (YIM)
04 Apr 17:April e-news
02 Mar 17:Youth Mentoring news - March 2017
21 Dec 16:Happy holidays from the NZ Youth Mentoring Network
24 Nov 16:Regional workshops: new Youth Mentoring Guide - update
25 Oct 16:Registrations for Wellington & Auckland Regional workshops - now open
12 Oct 16:October update - Regional workshops on the new Youth Mentoring Guide
13 Sep 16:Regional workshops: new Youth Mentoring Guide - update
16 Aug 16:Regional workshops: new Youth Mentoring Guide - update
20 Jul 16:Youth Mentoring latest news - July 2016
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18 Dec 15:December 2015 update
01 Sep 15:September Youth Mentoring Update
23 Jun 15:June 2015 - Youth Mentoring update
17 Jun 15:Prof. Michael Karcher presentation - update
09 Jun 15:Prof. Karcher presentation - revised RSVP link
09 Jun 15:Invitation - Professor Michael J. Karcher - Mentoring the mentors
16 Apr 15:Youth Mentoring update - April 2015
10 Mar 15:Invitation - Distinguished visitor - Wellington and Auckland events
19 Feb 15:Invitation - Professor Zimmerman, Mentoring at risk Youth
17 Dec 14:December 2014 Update
26 Aug 14:Invitation to register your programme with the Youth Mentoring Network
23 May 14:May 2014 - Youth Mentoring News
22 Apr 14:MentorPlus workshop - Wellington 12 and 13 May - 3 places left!
11 Apr 14:Youth Mentoring April update
12 Mar 14:Festival of Education: Youth Mentoring sessions - places limited - register now
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20 Dec 13:Seasons Greetings from the NZ Youth Mentoring Network
23 Oct 13:Youth Mentoring - October update
17 Sep 13:Youth Mentoring - September update
03 Sep 13:NZ Youth Mentoring Conference registrations close today!
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