Checking In Mentor Blog

Activities Associated with DCPC Mentors

Mentors should be prepared to offer practical advice to returning citizens.  Advice might include Information as basic as how to get to a certain destination, bus routes or instructions on riding the Metrorail system.  Mentors might place feelers in their respective communities or places of employment about job opportunities. However, the main focus for the mentor is to provide nonjudgmental and consistent support for a returning citizen. 

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Mentors might also find themselves assisting with decision-making and problem-solving matters with their assigned partner (see chapter 7).  In fact, proving assistance with making good decisions, mending family and community ties, and other acts of good citizenry will likely be the lion’s share of your interaction with returned citizens.  Here are a few helpful tips:

• Mentors should ensure that shared communication fosters relationships based upon trust and conditions where the mentee feels valued. [Also See: Trust Building Techniques]

• Mentors should identify the mentee’s strengths and assets and attempt to motivate positive social behaviors.

• Mentors should help the mentee recognize their goals and develop a road map for success beginning with incremental steps, such as obtaining identification, locating job prospects, or cultivating family reunification.

• Mentors should be prepared to listen and discuss common challenges the mentee may have; assistance with the mentee’s decision-making criteria may be needed ;

• Mentors should note returning citizen concerns. They might have questions about how to prepare for an interview or rekindling ties with a child that they haven’t seen in a while or how best to handle personal demons and temptations.  Through discussion and observations, Mentors might also notice apprehension, excitement, disappointment, and frustration associated with their living situation, health needs, or perceived changes in their relationship with family and friends.

• Mentors should maintain a log book and capture first impressions, telephone discussions, aspirations, personal challenges trying to establish trust, triumphs, and disappointments of the mentee.  Since developing a relationship with a complete stranger has infinite possible dynamics, small and major observations should be captured in the mentor’s log books.  Finally, DCPC will use mentor notes as the basis for a final report.  This report along with mentor exit conference with DCPC will be used to tailor the program and to determine its overall effectiveness.

• Mentors can contact the DCPC Program Coordinator to discuss any matters of concern that arise during personal discussions, as well as assigned group activities. Other resources available for mentors include DCPC and The Fairview staff. 

Mentee Competency Criteria & Needs

• Mentors should become knowledgeable with their mentees aspirations, as well as personal challenges while transitioning from The Fairview.  DCPC will provide various workshops to augment Mentor training; however the following list of competencies and characteristics can assist the evaluation of the mentee’s transition:

• Decision-Making Skills: The cognitive process resulting in the (1) selection of beliefs or (2) course of action among several possible alternatives.

• Coping Skills: Methods a person uses to deal with stressful situations. Developing good coping skills can assist with mental health wellness.

• Moral Conduct: Developing a sense of societal values associated with the distinctions between right and wrong. Moral conduct can also assist individuals with attitudes and behaviors of conveying or expressing truths.

• Social Skills: Social skills include communications and activities that individuals use to interact and communicate with others.  They often include both verbal and nonverbal interactions.  A key determinant is often an individual’s “socialization.”

• Healthy Relationships: Oftentimes positive communication allows one member of society to better understand and interact with others.  Researchers posit that mutual respect is an essential component to maintain healthy relations. Disagreements are also a part of all relationships; however, finding understanding, or a possible means to compromise a stance, including allowing an alternative approach to matters can often lead to healthy relationships, healthy environments, and a more healthy-self.

• Family Relationships: Family is defined as a group of people with some degree of kinship, whether through blood, marriage, adoption, or shared social situations. A common factor in most families is a concern for the wellbeing of its members. Where concern is not an apparent factor, forgiveness, fresh starts, recognition of human frailties, and love, can assist bonds and/or bring about new commitment.  DCPC believes that family is the best reunification strategy.

• Housing:  As previously noted, residents at The Fairview stay for a relatively short period; between two and six months.  During this period residents are encouraged to find alternative housing.   However, it is noted that finding housing, post-incarceration, is very problematic.

• Job Readiness: Fairview offers employment training and life skills classes to residents. The Fairview Social Service Coordinator works closely with the Department of Employment Services, Office of Returning Citizens Affairs, DC Central Kitchen, New Course Catering, the University of the District of Columbia, and other stakeholders to assist women to find gainful employment.  The facility boasts a higher than 70 percent success rate in this area.

• These competencies are reflected in the list below. They are also identified in the Mentor Log and recommended as focal points of discussions.

  • Decision Making

  • Coping

  • Moral Conduct

  • Social Skills/Prosocial Skills

  • Healthy Relationship Focus

  • Family Relations

  • Housing and Stability

  • Job Readiness

  • Finance & Budget

  • Personal Skills

  • Bad habits

  • Negative Behaviors

  • Self-Esteem/Positive Image

  • Hope for Future

  • Caring Attitudes

  • Commitment

  • Teachable