	Volunteer Mentoring Services

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

VM 4: Screening and Selection of Mentors

Mentor applicants are screened prior to selection to determine their suitability and to safeguard and promote the well being of service recipients.

VM 4.01

The mentor screening process includes:

a written application;
an in-person interview that includes an assessment of the applicant’s motivation for volunteering;
reference checks;
criminal history checks, where legally permissible; and
child abuse registry checks, where legally permissible.

Interpretation: The screening process is to be completed before an applicant serves children, youth, or dependant adults in any capacity. An organization’s procedures should clearly detail what qualities and qualifications it is seeking in its volunteers and what characteristics would disqualify a prospective mentor from participating in the program.

Note: If mentors have opportunities to transport service recipients, the organization should also review their driving records, as referenced in ASE 6.03.

Research Note: Congress recently extended SafetyNET, a pilot program that allows mentoring programs serving children and youth to have access to FBI fingerprint-based criminal background checks. Since Congress first created the program in 2003, MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership has made background checks available for eighteen dollars per request, with a turnaround time of three to five business days.

VM 4.02

A prospective mentor’s availability is assessed to determine if s/he will have sufficient time to establish and maintain a mentoring relationship.

Interpretation: The organization should clearly communicate expectations regarding: (1) how frequently mentors and service recipients will meet, and (2) the minimum length of time mentors need to commit to the program. Although expectations can vary based on program type and model, many programs ask mentors to meet with service recipients at least one hour per week, or for several hours once or twice a month, for at least a year.

Note: See Research Note to VM 7.02.

VM 4.03

The organization assesses whether the applicant’s personal qualities will facilitate the development of a trust-based relationship centered on the service recipient.

Note: See Research Note to VM 7.01.

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	PURPOSE: Individuals participating in Volunteer Mentoring Services develop supportive, positive relationships that contribute to the achievement of personal, social, and educational growth.

RELATED FILES


	VOLUNTEER An individual who performs services for an organization for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation for services rendered. Such service must be offered freely and without pressure or coercion, direct or implied, from an employer. If the individual is otherwise employed by the same employer for which s/he volunteers, the individual cannot volunteer to perform the same type of services that s/he is paid to perform as an employee.


	SERVICE One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	SERVICE RECIPIENT The individuals, groups, organizations, or communities that use, receive, or benefit from programs and services. Service recipients can include consumers, patients, family members, legal guardians, advocates, public/private organizations, employers, and purchasers. All are regarded as significant stakeholders served in a variety of agencies and practice settings.


	ASSESSMENT An evaluation, which utilizes professional expertise and skills in the collection and analysis of data to understand and describe the nature of service needs of an individual, family, or group. Assessment, as in needs assessment, is also used to determine priorities of program planning and service development for the organization as a whole. See also DIAGNOSIS.


	PROGRAM A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.


	BACKGROUND CHECK The review of an individual's personal information typically performed by or at the request of an employer, which may include verification of educational credentials or employment experience, as well as an examination of the individual's criminal records, driving records, licensing records, and civil abuse or neglect history.


	RESEARCH For purposes of COA accreditation, all forms of internal or external research involving persons served except internal program evaluation and outcomes research, or educational projects performed by students and interns that are part of their professional training.