Developing a Peer Mentoring Program at BLHS
Fall 2021-
Problem Statement: How can I learn more about healthcare career options by helping my peers at school?
Changed Problem Statement: How can I explore my interest in medicine by developing a program to help my peers?
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Focus: The focus was to apply for a grant as well as develop the structure for a Peer Mentoring Program. This program would focus on positive mental health and be a support system for the school.
The Beginning...
At the start of IA, I was worried about what I would do as my project for the semester. Mrs. Breault, my facilitator, and I brainstormed possible projects that would relate to my interest in medicine. We landed upon applying for the Healthy Habits Grant. I also chose to collaborate with Olivia Vanderwide.
Landing on a Project
Olivia and I were given the idea of putting the grant money towards a Peer Mentoring program. We talked with Mrs. Fisher, head of student ambassadors, who was thinking about starting the program with the help of the ambassadors. Olivia and I are both ambassadors, so applying for money for the program worked well.
Delegating Responsibilities
Olivia and I had to figure out how we would delegate responsibilities. We were in separate classes, so it was important to establish a good way to communicate. I created a shared google calendar, so we could stay on track. However, it ended up being ineffective in the long run. I tried using a shared google drive folder, an update document, and more. Communication was a struggle throughout the project because it was hard to know what my partner was doing. After some time I realized that delegating tasks worked better for us.
Starting to Write the Grant
After deciding that the grant money would go towards a Peer Mentoring program, Olivia and I met with Ms. Herbster, a counselor, to establish what progress had been made on the program in the past. We learned that some students had attempted to implement this program but never followed through. We also brainstormed what the grant money could be used for, such as a training program.
Understanding the Grant Writing Process
After considering all of the information Ms. Herbster gave us, we continued to add onto the grant. I also met with Ms.Herbster again in order to further establish effective communication with her. Olivia and I had no idea how to write a grant, so it was important that we had continuous feedback from Ms. Herbster and Mrs. Breault. Furthermore, we didn't fully understand what parts of the grant were asking for, but we learned it through the process.
Finalizing the Grant
We finished writing the grant, using all of the information and notes that we gained from meetings and research, in order to have enough time to get feedback on it. We also ensured that we met the grants requirements for the program the money would fund: reducing cardiovascular risks, promoting healthy eating, and/or promoting physical activity. In order to meet those requirements, we integrated healthy snacks and activities, like yoga, into our plan for peer mentoring sessions. We also stated how reducing stress, by talking about problems and learning coping methods, cardiovascular risks are reduced.
Getting Feedback & Submitting the Grant
Olivia and I got feedback from staff within the school about our grant. We received some great suggestions that we utilized to improve the grant itself. It was really beneficial to get feedback from staff who had experience in grant writing because Olivia and I had never done anything similar to grant writing. After finalizing details and working with Mrs. Breault, we submitted the grant.
Reflecting Over the Grant
After submitting the grant, I spent some time reflecting. I realized that even if we didn't get the grant, the process of writing the grant was good experience, and it allowed us to get a good foundation for the program itself. After talking and reflecting, I realized that my project isn't just limited to the grant. I shifted my focus to actually starting a Peer Mentoring program.
On November 12, 2021, Olivia and I got notice that we received the $1,000 grant that we applied for! We were super excited to have gotten the grant, and we knew it would really help us develop the program. This was one of the most exciting and incredible things that I got to experience, and we were both proud to be able to help bring some funding into something that will help generations of BLHS students.
Getting the $1,000 Grant!
Startup of Peer Mentoring
Peer Mentoring had a mini startup during an SOS screener day at school. Student Ambassadors who were interested in the program were trained to help escort kids to mental health professionals. During the initial meetings, we also established some goals as group. This initial startup activity really helped create a sense of unity and support within the prospective mentors. Furthermore, it helped establish the program as a support group within the school.
Creating a Timeline
After the grant process, I realized that we needed a timeline and goals. I created a set of goals and aligned them onto a timeline in order to ensure that Olivia and would be on track. We also got this timeline reviewed by Ms. Herbster and got some feedback.
Finding a Training Program
Finding a training program was difficult because we needed to find a credible program that met our needs. From the beginning, Olivia and I were looking at training programs, and we sought help from Ms. Herbster and Mrs. Breault. Some of the training programs we found weren't credible and through which is important to have because these mentors could be in some serious situations. Despite the initial struggle, we landed on Mentoring.org's standards because they aligned well with our requirements.
Creating the Application Process
After landing on a training program, we started creating an application process that would ensure that both the mentees and mentors would get the most benefit from this program. In creating the application, I was able to reference another rough application that was created by a student who was working on this in the past. I created a full application by using the guidelines Olivia, Ms. Herbster, and I established during previous meetings. Olivia, Ms. Herbster, and Ms. Lenard reviewed the application. We also created a google form for teacher recommendations for the interview part of the application process.
Setting the Structure for Peer Mentoring Sessions
We established that Peer Mentoring Sessions would involve mentor(s) talking with a mentee or mentees. This could involve talking about issues that don't require the attention of mental health professionals. We also stated that these sessions could involve eating a healthy snack or doing an activity, like yoga. Olivia and I both agreed that we wanted to get feedback from mentees after their session, so we created a google from. Furthermore, we established that we needed to find a space for these sessions, so we started looking for one.
Presenting the Program
Olivia and I got to present to the multiple people, including our superintendent and Tom Vander Ark. Furthermore, we were given the opportunity to present to the board of education on December 13, 2021.
Problem Statement: How do I establish a Peer Mentoring group and get to a place where I can delegate responsibilities?
Spring 2022: Developing a Peer Mentoring Program at BLHS
Spring 2022
Problem Statement: How do I establish a Peer Mentoring group and get to a place where I can delegate responsibilities?
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Focus: This semester I was working more independently. After planning and creating the structure for Peer Mentoring last semester, this semester was implementing the program, and using the grant money.
Getting Mentors Applied
The Peer Mentoring application was sent out to the school, and we got some great applications sent in. Mrs. Herbster and I had a meeting where we wrote the email that we sent out regarding the application process. This process required constant communication with Mrs. Herbster and Mrs. Fisher. Once the applications were sent out, we had to have a meeting to review all the applications. During the meeting, we realized that the volunteer mentors who helped out during the SOS screener were confused, and a lot of people didn't apply. After discussing, the Peer Mentoring Leadership Team and I decided to extend the deadline for one day. We sent out an email to the volunteer mentors, and we got more applications turned in the next day. After discussing applications, we moved on to the second portion of the application process.
Phase 2 of the Application Process
The second phase of the application process was to send out the teacher recommendation form to the teachers, and we needed to have people sign up for interview times. After talking with Mrs. Herbster and Mrs. Fisher to find out their schedules, I created a Sign Up Genius that would work best for the students and the Peer Mentoring Leadership team. I wanted to make sure that the interview times would work for everyone. The Sign Up Genius I created actually had to be edited three times in order to best fit schedules. After the final version of the Sign Up was created, I sent an email out to the applicants who moved on to the second phase.
Figuring Out the Next Step
After all of the interviews were conducted, I had to figure what to do next. I created an ideation poster where I brainstormed the next steps for Peer Mentoring. Some of the things I thought of was creating social media accounts and hosting a meeting with the accepted mentors. During this phase, we also received notice of another possible grant. Mrs Herbster, Mrs Fisher, Olivia, and I had a meeting with Mrs. Breault where we discussed the mini-grant along with some concerns we had. After discussing, we determined that the best thing was to focus on starting mentoring meetings instead of getting more funds. We also addressed some issues we had with understanding our roles and limitations.
Preparing for the Inaugural Meeting
After deciding that we should focus on getting Peer Mentoring started, I started getting ready to have the first official Peer Mentoring meeting. To prepare, I created a list of questions to address with Mrs. Herbster. This also included determining who was going to be accepted. After discussing with Mrs. Herbster, I sent out an email to the accepted mentors and got started with an agenda. Then, I bought snacks for the meeting using the funds that we had. Furthermore, I made sure to get the Peer Mentoring club onto the yearbook in order to make our presence known in the school.
Inaugural Meeting
On Friday, March 25th, we had our first official Peer Mentoring meeting. We played train wreck, discussed norms, got familiar with expectations, and got to know each other! I was mostly leading the meeting which was new for me, but I ended up having fun with it. The mentors enjoyed snacks while they learned more of what Peer Mentoring will look like. After the meeting, we sent out a GroupMe access link, shared a drive folder, and prepared to get ready for the next meeting.
Ignite training manual linked
Setting Up the Next Steps
After the inaugural meeting, I met with Mrs. Herbster to discuss what we should do next. During the meeting we talked about using Ignite mentoring resources mixed in with the mentoring.org resources. The Ignite training curriculum has really great worksheets and statements. Mrs. Herbster and I also discussed future meeting dates. In addition, we reached out to a mentor to make a logo for the mentoring program.
Spending the Grant Money
After the initial Peer Mentoring meeting, I knew it was time to start spending the grant money. I created a google doc where I could add links to products that I wanted to buy. This included yoga mats, a mini-fridge, and seating. I realized it was more challenging than I thought because there are so many options, but I needed the best option for the program. To get feedback, I tested with Mrs. Herbster during my last meeting where she brought up good points. For instance, she pointed out getting Clorox wipes to wipe down yoga mats, and she also gave me the idea to look on Sam's Club because they had great deals on mini-fridges. As a result of my testing, I changed my products. For instance, I found seating with more sanitary surfaces that could be easily wiped down.
Training
At this point in the process, we knew it was time to start having training meetings. I ideated and tested with Mrs Herbster about the training plan before having each training meeting. We talked about what topic we were going to cover and the method of training. During these training meetings, we pass out related documents with some guidelines relating to the topic as well as a worksheet/conversation starter page. The mentors are able to add onto this folder during every meeting. We try to foster conversations while also allowing mentors to self-reflect. One of the challenges we had to overcome was ensuring that the training was effective and not boring. To achieve this, we are planning a fun summer training retreat as well as a mock mentee-mentor meeting
This survey will be sent out to mentors to get some feedback and information about the mentors. This information will help the Leadership Team pair the mentees with a mentor with a similar personality/interest. It will also allow the Leadership Team to improve the training and program overall!
This survey will be sent out to mentors to get some feedback and information about the mentors. This information will help the Leadership Team pair the mentees with a mentor with a similar personality/interest. It will also allow the Leadership Team to improve the training and program overall!
Reflecting and Preparing for the Future
The Peer Mentoring Leadership Team (Mrs Herbster, Mrs Billet, Mrs Fisher, Mrs Harter, Olivia, and I) had a meeting on May 12, 2022. We reflected over how training has been going, discussed results from a survey sent to the mentors, and planned for the future of Peer Mentoring. The survey sent to the mentors had questions relating to their interests, personality type, weaknesses, strengths, role within Peer Mentoring, feedback, and more. This survey will allowed us to not only gauge the mentors themselves, but it also helped us find the best fit for the mentors and improve the program overall. During the leadership team meeting, I also tested some of the other prototypes I have created. Some of the concerns I addressed included attendance at meetings and communication issues. When I created an attendance sheet, I noticed we had some mentors with unexcused attendance. Since training is essential, it is vital that mentors show up to meetings and/or communicate with the Leadership Meetings.