Mentoring Models Vary
LARGE VS SMALL
• I will present The Buffalo Model Mentoring 101
• There are other models which you will hear about during this Webinar
• What works for your Court?
• All models share several key concepts:
• -Mentors are not Counselors
• -Mentors are not Drill Sergeants
• -Maintain confidentiality
• -Most important, BE A FRIEND/WAR BUDDY

• Find coordinator
• Only need 1 or 2 or 3 mentors to start
• Slowly build Resource Book – Use it!
• DON’T OVERWHELM MENTORS
• MAKE SURE YOUR MENTOR
GUIDELINES ARE DOCUMENTED
Court admonishes, Mentors motivate

VOLUNTEER
• A FRIEND, War Buddy, Advocate
• Acts as a resource to the veteran
Defendant
• Helps veteran and their families navigate the VA, Social Services and other Systems
• Served or is serving in the U.S. Military
• Is not a Counselor

A MENTOR IS NOT
• -A COUNSELOR
• -A DRILL INSTRUCTOR
• -A PRIEST
• -A BANKER
• -AN INTIMATE PARTNER
• -A LAWYER
• -A KNOW IT ALL

KEY COMPONENTS OF ANY MENTOR
PROGRAM
• DOCUMENT YOUR MENTOR PROGRAM
• DEVELOP MENTOR CONTRACT
• RECRUIT/TRAIN MENTORS
• DEVELOP RESOURCE LIST
• RESERVE, NATIONAL GUARD,SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS (VVA,VFW,ETC)
• LOCAL COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE

Mentor process KEEP IT SIMPLE
• All MENTORS ARE VETERAN ADVOCATES
• YOU ARE A RESOURCE FOR THE VET
• HELP VET AND FAMILY NAVIGATE SYSTEMS
• MAKE SURE VA HEALTHCARE AND ANY
DISABILITY CLAIMS ARE IN PLACE
• 50% OF TIME YOU ARE JUST A FRIEND
• TRAINING IS IN HOW TO NAVIGATE SYSTEMS
NOT IN “COUNSELING”
• SET UP TRAINING SESSIONS

• Attend Court scheduled sessions
• Participate in and lead mentoring sessions when assigned by the judge
• Be supportive and understanding of the difficulties the veteran mentees are facing
• Assist the veteran mentees as much as possible to resolve any concerns around the court, VA
• And systems, systems

• Awareness
• Obligation
• Seriousness
• Partnership
• Objectives
• Listen twice as much as you
TALK
• (2 and 1, 2 ear
1 mouth)

STANDARDS AND CONFIDENTIALITY
• TRUST IS EARNED
• MENTEE IS A PERSON NOT A PROJECT
• LET MENTEE KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO AND
WHAT YOU CAN NOT DO
• HAVE A WRITTEN MENTOR PROCEDURE
• HAVE A WRITTEN CONTRACT FOR ALL
MENTORS TO SIGN

• Moral principle that governs a person’s behavior
• Understand your own self (taking on too much may contribute to compromise)
• Realize we can not make our Mentee a carbon copy of ourselves

RESPECT FOR THE MENTOR’S ROLE
• JUDGES, PROBATION OFFICER'S, COURT
STAFF
• MENTOR IS NOT A SOURCE OF INFORMATION
• MENTOR/MENTEE INTERVIEWS ARE
CONFIDENTIAL
• SAFETY CONCERN EXCEPTION
• IF MENTEE IS GOING TO HURT HIMSELF OR
OTHERS, MENTOR WILL ADVISE COURT

• UMBRELLA ORGANIZATIONS
• Donations are used to help Veterans
• Transportation bus passes
• Rent/mortgage payments
• Furniture
• Small appliances
• Travel
• ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO COLLECT
MONEY?

• Essential to maintaining the success of the
Veteran Mentor Program
– DOCUMENT YOUR MENTOR PROGRAM
– Recruit volunteer Veteran mentors
– Assist in their retention
– Organize and conduct their training
– Supervise your mentors
– Sustain and evolve the Veteran Mentor
Program
– Run your “Not-For-Profit” or other program
• Always ways for organization to connect

Thank you for your Service
Good Luck with your Mentor Programs
These materials have been prepared under the auspices of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Drug Courts
Technical Assistance Project at American University, Washington, D.C. This project was supported by Grant No. 2012-
DC-BX-K005 awarded to American University by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National
Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime.
Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.