Center for Emerging Leadership
“What is a Peer Mentor?”
What is a Peer Mentor?
A Peer Mentor is an older, or more experienced person (young adult ages 18-30) who
guides, informs, and supports Youth (ages 13-17) and Emerging Leaders (young adults
ages 18-30). A Peer Mentor does not take the place of a parent, nor do they make
decisions for the Emerging Leader.
The role of the Peer Mentor is to help Youth/Emerging Leaders to become better selfadvocates. The Peer Mentor forms and maintains a relationship with the Emerging
Leader through:
 Contact by telephone;
 Contact by e-mail;
 Face to face meetings; and
 Advocacy with schools, families, and community programs.
What is the Purpose of Peer Mentoring?
To share knowledge and experience that will help Emerging Leaders to become more
successful in postsecondary education, employment and community living.
What are the Responsibilities of a Peer Mentor?
 The Peer Mentor conducts a pre and post Self Determination Questionnaire;
 Make weekly contact with the Emerging Leader or Youth;
 Keep records of each contact;
 Meet with Emerging Leaders or Youth before IEP, ITP, or IPP meetings; and
 Make contact with service coordinators and parents (when appropriate) to inform
that they (the Peer Mentor) have been asked to attend these meetings.
What are the Qualities of a Peer Mentor?
Peer Mentors have good social skills, and are people oriented. Peer Mentors are:
respectful, patient, supportive, and empathetic. They are able to communicate with
Emerging Leaders, and create an environment that is safe for learning new skills (Habib,
1997).
How are Peer Mentors Supported?
Peer Mentors are trained, and supported by CEL staff, graduate students, and support
people from the agency that referred them to CEL.
Who Needs Peer Mentor?
 Youth (ages 13-17) and Emerging Leaders (ages 18-30) who want to make
changes in their lives;
 People who need someone to talk to; and
 People who want to learn to be better self-advocates
Center for Emerging Leadership
“What is a Peer Mentor?”
What a Peer Mentor does:
Peer Mentors help Youth and Emerging Leaders to become better self advocates. You
can learn how to let your service providers know what you want to do. The Peer Mentor
and Emerging Leader form a relationship through:



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Contact by telephone;
Contact by e-mail;
Face to face meetings; and
Advocacy with schools, families, and community programs.
Peer Mentors will share their knowledge, insight and experience with self-advocating
for the things they wanted or needed. Peer Mentors can help Emerging Leaders to
become more successful in postsecondary education, employment and community
living.
What are the Responsibilities of Youth or Emerging Leaders?
 Stay in weekly contact with their Peer Mentor;
 Meet at least two times with their Peer Mentor before IEP, ITP, or IPP meetings.
 Tell their service coordinator and parents (if they are under 18) that they want
their Peer Mentor to come to your planning meeting with them.
How do I get a Peer Mentor?
You can talk to a Peer Mentor by calling the Center for Emerging Leadership (CEL)
At: (619) 594-3588.
You can also send an e-mail to: cel@interwork.sdsu.edu to ask a Peer Mentor to contact
you.