Chapter 9: Mentoring Students Exposed to Trauma
Discussion Points
Using any type of mentoring program frequently involves a school-wide planning effort. The example in the text from Green County, GA provides guidance on how to begin to plan for an adult mentoring program. Many faculty members in schools that have implemented such a program feel that the mentoring prevents a wide variety of behavioral problems, as it did in the Green County example. Further, local participation in schools often helps the school obtain resources that may otherwise have not been available. For this chapter, and the next two chapters, the facilitator should find out if any faculty members are interested in planning these school wide interventions. If so a small committee of faculty should be formed to explore these options further, using the videos and resources on this website. We urge the facilitator to involve an administrator in each planning group, and request that the planning group meet a few times, and then report their thoughts back to the faculty in session 5 or 6.
Recommended Videos
M.O.L.D. Mentoring Program Connects Students and Trusted Adults—Milton Hershey School(2 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cziJtb1jCjo
In this brief video both teachers and students describe what an adult mentoring program in a high school meant to them. In this example, one of the adult mentors mentions watching the growth of students over a five-year period, so this is an example of a multi-year mentoring program.
For Students and Their Mentors, Learning Goes Both Ways (4 minutes)https://www.youtube.com//watch?v=JEbad3WM-Hw
This video presents three examples of high school girls talking with their adult mentors in an adult mentoring program. Their relationships are explored, and several of the students indicated that their mentor was their main source for a sense of security. For students who have survived trauma, such a security can be critical for successful development.
For Students and Their Mentors, Learning Goes Both Ways (4 minutes)https://www.youtube.com//watch?v=JEbad3WM-Hw
This video presents three examples of high school girls talking with their adult mentors in an adult mentoring program. Their relationships are explored, and several of the students indicated that their mentor was their main source for a sense of security. For students who have survived trauma, such a security can be critical for successful development.
Additional Resources
Trauma Training Presentation for Success Mentors
https://www.mentoring.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Trauma-Training-Presentation-ppt-for-Success-Mentors.final-edits.ppt.pdf
The website above presents a slide show and number of references on using Mentors with students exposed to trauma. This may be useful for training mentors about trauma.
https://www.youthcollaboratory.org/resource/trauma-informed-mentoring This website provides an extensive toolkit including a series of videos on mentoring students exposed to trauma, including 19 modules focused on students who are victims of sex trafficking. Information within these modules includes extensive information for working with LGBTQ and Youth, students of color, and Indigenous Persons. Much of this information came from Wichita State University Center for Combating Human Trafficking. This website also presents textual descriptions of the impact of trauma on the mind/body, and how trauma can hamper development. Trauma informed practices are also described.
The website above presents a slide show and number of references on using Mentors with students exposed to trauma. This may be useful for training mentors about trauma.
https://www.youthcollaboratory.org/resource/trauma-informed-mentoring This website provides an extensive toolkit including a series of videos on mentoring students exposed to trauma, including 19 modules focused on students who are victims of sex trafficking. Information within these modules includes extensive information for working with LGBTQ and Youth, students of color, and Indigenous Persons. Much of this information came from Wichita State University Center for Combating Human Trafficking. This website also presents textual descriptions of the impact of trauma on the mind/body, and how trauma can hamper development. Trauma informed practices are also described.