Recognition and Retention

Providing recognition for significant contributions and accomplishments is an important component of a healthy, safe and rewarding mentoring environment. This section includes ideas for recognition events and sample tools to assist you.

Recognizing the contributions of mentors, mentees, staff and volunteers

Who doesn't feel good when they've received a compliment, an award, a good grade? What child would not like to have a trophy, a ribbon, a certificate of merit with their name on it, displayed in their room?

This is especially important for mentees who may not have such experiences often. Your mentoring program can do wonders for a child's self-esteem and level of hope by making recognition of their accomplishments-both great and small-an integral part of your operations.

Providing recognition for significant contributions and accomplishments is an important component of a healthy, safe and rewarding mentoring environment. It is true, after all, that little things-the pat on the back, the positive mention of one's name-do matter. Both public recognition and private kudos for a job well done boost morale, foster team spirit and raise retention rates across the board: mentees, mentors, volunteers and staff alike.

Some examples of ways to boost morale and help build self-confidence for mentors and mentees include:

If you recruited your mentors and mentees from particular organizations, work with the staff of those organizations to design recognition opportunities for mentors and mentees; and
Consider holding a formal event, such as an annual breakfast, lunch or dinner to recognize the hard work and dedication of everyone involved with the mentoring program.

Planning a major recognition event can be time-consuming, but is well worth the effort. Hold at least one event a year to allow mentors and mentees to be recognized not only by their peers in the mentoring group, but also by the community at large. Be sure to invite local media to cover the event.

Additional Recognition Tips:

Recognize outstanding mentor and mentee efforts, especially in reaching personal goals, such as improved grades in school or maintaining perfect school attendance for a specified time (one month, two months, etc.).
Spotlight mentors' contributions by running articles about them in organization newsletters, via e-mail, on bulletin boards-in whatever ways the organization spreads the word.
Encourage mentors to tell the story of their involvement, both through organization-sponsored programs and through their own initiative. One of the most effective recruitment tools is having mentors ask their friends and colleagues to mentor.
Work with local print and electronic media to run stories about your mentoring program. National Mentoring Month in January, as well as National Volunteer Week in April, are perfect tie-ins.
Develop special recognition programs, such as a "match of the month," to honor mentors and mentees.
Nominate mentors for local or national volunteer recognition awards, but be sure to get your nominees' consent first.
Ask your advisory group to recognize and congratulate mentors and reiterate their personal commitment to mentoring.

(This section is excerpted from How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice, Section VI. How to Structure Effective Program Operations.)

Recognition and Retention Resources

Additional information, resources and tools are available in the Find Resources section and in the How to Build a Successful Mentoring Program Using the Elements of Effective Practice Toolkit.