Mentorship in North Carolina The Mentorship Task Force of the Personnel Development Committee in North Carolina met in February 1995, to create a mentorship plan for specialized therapists (speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists) working or wishing to work in early intervention. The program was developed to recruit and provide support to experienced and inexperienced therapists, and to reinforce the skills of all specialized therapists working with children from birth to 5 years of age. A pilot project was created in three counties to gather data and opinions. The pilot program, begun in February 1996 for a 6-month period, included 10 dyad pairs. Phase II, modeled after the pilot project, extends from spring 1996 to fall 1997, and consists of two project sites. The two project sites of Phase II are (a) one in the eastern part of the state that covers 33 counties and includes approximately 33 dyads, and (b) one in the Research Triangle Sector that covers 13 counties and includes 25 dyads. Phase III, planned for fall 1997 to spring 1998, will continue to target therapists but also will be extended to include other early intervention providers, such as psychologists, social workers, and special educators. Funding The plan was funded from a grant of $5,000.00 received from the North Carolina Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) for Children Birth to 5 and Their Families, which is also known as the North Carolina ICC for Children with Developmental Disabilities. Mentors To recruit mentors, letters were sent to all licensed therapists (speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists) in the pilot area. Interested therapists submitted applications and were interviewed by telephone by Task Force members. In the future, applicants also will be interviewed by phone. Monetary incentives were not offered during the initial project. Mentees To introduce the concept of mentorship, letters again were sent to all therapists in the area. Applications were submitted by therapists wishing to become mentees. Program Mentors and mentees were matched by the Mentorship Task Force according to areas of reported strengths and needs. A profile of the mentor was sent to the mentee and vice versa. Most dyads met for the first time at an opening dinner. The training session included administrative information and presentations on the definition of mentoring and goal setting. The mentoring program lasted for 6 months. There were no requirements for the number of hours or contacts the dyads had to complete. The mentees were encouraged to set one to two measurable goals to be accomplished during the program. A formal contract was not required, but may be required in the future once monetary incentives are used. Mentors and mentees were required to mail progress reports after each meeting. Participants were contacted midway through the program by a Task Force member. At the end of the mentorship experience, a meeting was held for all participants to answer questionnaires and to comment on their experiences. At this time, participation in the program does not contribute to certification or credentialing. Evaluation A major success of the pilot project was the employment of two new physical therapists as early intervention providers. Results of a follow-up questionnaire for the 6-month pilot program indicate additional outcomes. Fifteen (15) of the 20 participants completed the questionnaires. Participants were asked to rate how the program contributed to specified areas using a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being "not applicable," 2 being "not at all," and 5 being "a great deal." Results revealed that participants felt the program contributed to the enhancement of skills (3.2), to the reduction of a sense of isolation (3.9), to professional development (3.8), and interest in early intervention (3.4). Of the 15 respondents, 12 reported that they would participate again, 2 were not sure, and 1 would not. Both mentors and mentees valued the experience. Both members of the dyads commented that they enjoyed establishing a relationship with another professional and valued having another person as a resource. Contact: Barbara Doster, PT Chair, Mentor Task Force Personnel Development Committee of NCICC 8336 Dunstaff Road Charlotte, NC 20269-9777 Office: (704) 782-4514 Home: (704) 547-0906 Fax: (704) 784-2346 E-mail: gonabl8@aol.com Supporting Documents Available From North Carolina: Materials from the first project: Mentor/Mentee Recruitment Letter Mentor Application Form Mentee Application Form Strengths and Needs Checklist Mentorship Progress Note Follow-Up Questionnaire for Participants Results: Follow-Up Questionnaire Materials from the Eastern NC project: Mentor Application Form Mentee Application Form Strengths and Needs Checklist Communication Log Liaison Interview Developed with funding from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, under Contract No. RR93002001. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the position or policies of OERI or the Department. Digests may be freely reproduced. downloaded at www.schoolhousedoor.com