Prevention First is pleased to offer this collection of online resources to support adult-to-youth mentoring and tutoring programs. Whether you are just thinking about developing a program, have already been using mentoring or tutoring, or are a veteran to these approaches, this toolkit will offer valuable information about specific program components that will enable your program to flourish. Establishing a solid foundation for your program is vital to long-term success.

Each resource in this toolkit offers a wealth of research-based information, learning and networking opportunities, and hands-on tools to support mentoring and tutoring programs. This toolkit is not intended to serve as the single repository of all mentoring/tutoring knowledge. However, it has been developed to give you a solid understanding of what it takes to build and maintain a successful program. To ensure that you have the most current information Prevention First will continuously update this page. We encourage you to share resources with Prevention First that you have found helpful. For more information, or to share a resource, please contact Sarah.Potter@prevention.org or Felicia.Roberson@prevention.org.

Click here for trainings related to Mentoring and Tutoring.

The following topics can be accessed by scrolling down or clicking on thelink below:

• IDHS SAPP Mentoring Standards
• IDHS SAPP Tutoring Standards
• CPRD Background Research: Mentoring Programs
• CPRD Background Research: Tutoring Programs
• Prevention First Mentoring News Flashes
• Prevention First Tutoring News Flashes
• Mentoring Resources, Toolkits, and Guides
• Tutoring Resources, Toolkits, and Guides
• IDHS BCPP-SAPP Funded Tutoring and Mentoring Providers
• Other Tutoring and Mentoring providers in Illinois
• Upcoming Training and Conferences
• Mentoring and Tutoring Materials Available in the Prevention First Library

IDHS-SAPP Standards for Adult-to-Youth Mentor Programs - SAPP provides the following standards for Adult-to-Youth
Mentoring Programs. These standards are devised based on an extensive review of research literature. They translate research into everyday practice. SAPP funded Adult-to-Youth Mentoring Programs must comply with all standards indicated below.

• Mentor programs will maintain a ratio of one adult mentor to one youth.
• Mentor programs will implement a formal screening process which includes:
  • A written description of the mentor’s roles and responsibilities.
  • A written statement of the mentor’s commitment to the mentoring relationship.
  • Background/reference checks.
• Mentor programs will gain parental consent for youth participation.
• Mentor programs will hold a formal orientation session for mentors which includes:
  • Overview of roles and responsibilities.
  • Key issues for building strong mentor/mentee relationships.
  • Handling difficult situations.
• Mentor programs will provide ongoing and regular support and supervision for mentoring relationships and will contact mentors/mentees a minimum of once every six weeks.
• Mentor programs will set formal expectations for mentor pairs to meet at least one hour/class period per week for at least one school year
• Mentor programs will select youth into the program who demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics: single parent family status, low socio-economic status, lack of positive adult role models.
• Mentor programs will NOT use mentor relationships as a substitute for intensive intervention services, such as mental health counseling, when needed.

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IDHS-SAPP Standards for Tutoring Programs
SAPP provides the following standards for Tutoring Programs. These standards are devised based on an extensive review of research literature. They translate research into everyday practice. SAPP funded Tutoring Programs must comply with all standards indicated below.

• Tutoring programs will establish an individualized plan for each student that includes specific goals addressing area(s) of academic difficulty.
• Tutoring programs will maintain contact, a minimum of once per month, with each student’s teacher, in order to review academic progress and performance.
• Tutoring programs will provide tutors with ongoing support by phone contact or face-to-face meetings with the teacher/facilitator or program coordinator, at least once per month.
• Tutoring programs will meet a minimum of three times per week for 30-60 minutes per session until individualized academic goals have been met.
• When tutors are certified teachers, tutoring programs will maintain a ratio of no more than five students to one tutor. When the tutors are not certified teachers (including peer tutors), tutoring programs will maintain a ratio of no more than one student to one tutor.
• When the tutors are not certified teachers, tutoring programs will provide tutors with training prior to working with students and should include the following topics:
  • Overview of child development
  • Reading development
  • Strategies for responding to correct and incorrect responses
  • Strategies for guiding children’s behavior
  • Strategies for building a positive trusting relationship with children
• If your tutoring program uses “peer tutors” (either same-age or older youth) to deliver the tutoring program, the following standards must also be met:
  • Peer tutors should receive training through methods such as direct instruction, modeling, and practice sessions, covering such topics as providing clear instructions, using prompting and positive reinforcement, providing effective feedback, and systematic error correction.
  • An adult will be present during tutoring sessions to ensure sufficient supervision.
  • The facilitator will check in with each peer-tutoring pair at least once per session to ensure that tutoring plans are on track and pairs are attending well to tutoring activities.

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CPRD Background Research: Mentoring Programs
The Center for Prevention Research and Development is contracted by SAPP to provide evaluation consultation and data management services that support the community based substance abuse prevention system across Illinois. CPRD staff work to gather, analyze and use evaluation data to drive decisions. This background research document outlines CPRD’s research findings for Mentoring Programs. These findings are based on extensive review of academic journals, government documents, and “consensus” documents. CPRD background research findings inform the SAPP standards for Mentoring Programs.

Click here to visit the CPRD mentoring programs Web site

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CPRD Background Research: Tutoring Programs
The Center for Prevention Research and Development is contracted by SAPP to provide evaluation consultation and data management services that support the community based substance abuse prevention system across Illinois. CPRD staff work to gather, analyze and use evaluation data to drive decisions. This background research document outlines CPRD’s research findings for Tutoring Programs. These findings are based on extensive review of academic journals, government documents, and “consensus” documents. CPRD background research findings inform the SAPP standards for Tutoring Programs.

Click here to visit the CPRD tutoring programs Web site

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PFI News Flashes: Mentoring Programs
Prevention First provides News Flashes aimed at spotlighting key elements of successful Mentoring Programs. Each News Flash highlights a specific topic, offering tips, tools and resources to enhance Mentoring Programs.

Mentoring Newsflash - Partnerships
Mentoring Newsflash - Recruitment
Mentoring Newsflash - Screening
Mentoring Newsflash - Mentor Training
Mentoring Newsflash - Fundraising
Mentoring & Tutoring Newsflash - Communicating Progress

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PFI News Flashes: Tutoring Programs
Prevention First provides News Flashes aimed at spotlighting key elements of successful Tutoring Programs. Each News Flash highlights a specific topic, offering tips, tools and resources to enhance Tutoring Programs.

Tutoring Newsflash - Recruitment
Tutoring Newsflash - Screening
Tutoring Newsflash - Tutor Training
Tutoring Newsflash - Fundraising
Tutoring Newsflash - Individualized Plan
Mentoring & Tutoring Newsflash - Communicating Progress

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Mentoring Resources, Toolkits, and Guides

Corporation for National and Community Service
Offers a resource center equipped with tools, training, event calendars, printed publications, videos, and other information to strengthen programs. The Resource Center serves as a learning exchange for programs to share innovations and effective practices.

Evaluation, Management, and Training (EMT)
A leading research organization in the field of mentoring, EMT features free downloadable resources on program startup, sustainability, best practices, marketing, special populations, and training.

LEARNS Partnership
Provides training and technical assistance to projects focused on literacy, education, mentoring, and out-of-school time. Web site features downloadable resources, innovative activities, and an array of practical tips and strategies for mentoring.

Mentor / National Mentoring Partnership E-Mentoring Toolkit
Offers E-mentoring program resources, toolkits, and software solutions.

National Mentoring Association
The Association of Mentoring Professionals is dedicated to professionalizing and strengthening the mentoring field by empowering professionals through education, resource sharing, and advocacy. The Web site offers many valuable tools to non-members.

National Mentoring Center
Provides dedicated training and technical assistance to mentoring programs, and houses the Mentor Exchange listserv. Web site offers an array of free downloadable, training curricula, research and tools to support mentoring.

National Mentoring Partnership
Holds the largest database of mentoring opportunities, offers support, resources, legislative advocacy, and information to strengthen youth mentoring programs and encourage adults to serve as mentors.

National Network of Youth Ministries
Offers a collection of mentor recruitment and promotional materials free of charge and available for download or order.

Online Mentor Training
The National Mentoring Partnership offers a free online training for adults mentoring middle school or high school youth. Training includes online modules, participant guide, and a Learn to Mentor Toolkit.

Public Private Ventures
P/PV produces valuable research-based products in the field of mentoring. This Web site houses research on various forms of mentoring, the practices of effective mentoring, and the administrative structures that facilitate mentoring programs. Most information is available for free download.

US Department of Education Mentoring Resource Center
MRC Web Site provides online resources, guidebooks and evaluation tools for mentoring programs. Topics include: background checks and screening, training, research, program design and management, school/community partnerships, serving special populations, sustainability planning and fundraising, and volunteer recruitment.

Washington State Mentoring
Provides assistance with training, recruitment, resource development, data collection, public awareness and policy to support quality mentoring.

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Tutoring Resources, Toolkits, and Guides

Center for Prevention Research and Development
Background research regarding tutoring programs can be found on this web site.

Corporation for National & Community Service
This web site contains tips for connecting with kids, conference and training opportunities and a host of resources to assist tutoring programs.

Empowering Youth
A Peer tutoring handbook and training material designed for middle and high school peer tutoring programs can be accessed at this web site.

FASTEN Network
This website has information regarding getting started, implementation and evaluation of tutoring programs and much more.

Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
The website is funded by Corporation for National & Community Service to provide strategies, resources, a toolkit and free publications to support youth learning.

Reading-Tutors
This unique website offers 400 reading packets which can be printed for an annual fee along with information on how to build a tutor program.

The Read Write Now Partners Tutoring Program
This training guide provides guidelines for effective tutoring programs and strategies to use during tutoring sessions which encourage learning.

Tutor/Mentor Connection
The information contained on this web site will link you to hundreds of resources related to tutoring programs. Topics include youth development, conferences and recruitment strategies.

TutorNation.com
This web site not only offers resources and tips for tutor programs. The site also contains information on an “International Tutor Certification” online course.

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IDHS BCPP-SAPP Funded Tutoring & Mentoring Programs

COMING SOON!

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Other Tutoring & Mentoring Programs in Illinois

For a list of other available Tutoring & Mentoring Programs in Illinois, please click here ...

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Training and Conferences

For a list of Tutoring & Mentoring Trainings and Conferences, please click here ...

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Lending Library Resources
Mentoring and Tutoring Materials Available in the Prevention First Lending Library
To search materials related to mentoring or tutoring which are available in the Prevention First Lending Library follow these easy instructions:

• Click here: Lending Library
• Then enter the keyword mentor* or tutor*
(Be sure to include the asterisk at the end of the word for a detailed search of our collection.)

If you experience problems with accessing the Prevention First online catalog please call either:

Chicago office at 800.572.5385
Springfield office at 800.252.8951

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Thank You for visiting the Prevention First Mentoring and Tutoring Toolkit!