Communication is more than a phone call away

Communication Skills

Serving as a mentor is both rewarding and challenging. However, the Labor Department’s Guide for Prisoner Reentry Programs cautions that it may be difficult for Mentors to develop a positive and supportive relationship with an individual who has only recently been released from prison. If shared, the experiences endured while incarcerated may be a real eye-opener for mentors; however, this level of candid discussion may only be conveyed when sufficient levels of trust have been developed in the Mentor/Mentee relationship. Developing such relationships may depend on the Mentor’s ability to communicate and emote effectively with their Mentee. This section will provide insights into developing effective communication.

As noted, research on mentoring suggests that developing positive and effective relationships do not happen automatically. Newly returned citizens have many challenges and needs that both involve and fall outside of the reentry services by The Fairview. As such, each mentor should be flexible and practice some of the listening skills and talking points noted below with their mentees. DCPC also has provided some observations for effective Mentor/Mentee dynamics, as well as techniques for more effective overall communications.

At a very basic but real level, DCPC believes that the mentor should serve as a source of information and complement the formal sources of support that are in place to guide her transition. However, sometimes how something is stated is as important, if not more important than what is actually being communicated. Please consider the following talking points and listening skills: