Use this Mentoring Program Vision, Mission and Values Statement developed by the ADF for your Community Action Plan.

Vision: Young people are supported to live healthy and fulfilling lives unlimited by alcohol and drug harm.

Mission: Connect young people with caring and responsible adults in order to build their knowledge, skills and wellbeing and prevent and/or delay the use of alcohol and other drugs.

Values: A number of beliefs and principles guide the Mentoring Program and should be considered at every stage of the mentoring relationship, including:

• promote the welfare and safety of the young person
• be trustworthy and responsible
• act with integrity
• promote justice for young people
• respect the young person’s rights and dignity
• honour the young person and family voice in designing and delivering services
• strive for equity, cultural responsiveness and positive social change.^17,24

The Mentoring Program is aligned with the purpose of the ADF and the LDAT Program, as outlined below.

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Alcohol and Drug Foundation

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF)²⁵ is Australia’s leading organisation committed to inspiring positive change and delivering evidence-based approaches to minimise alcohol and drug harm.

Vision: Lives unlimited by alcohol and drug harm.

Mission: Inspire positive change and deliver evidence-based approaches to minimise alcohol and drug harm.

Ambition: By 2025 we have changed knowledge, attitudes and practices so that we prevent and delay uptake amongst young people and strengthen prevention and harm reduction strategies for all. We will have achieved this by increasing adoption of evidence-based approaches.

ADF’s Local Drug Action Team (LDAT) Program supports communities to work together to prevent and minimise the harm caused by alcohol and other drugs. There are Local Drug Action Teams across Australia with more than 1500 organisations working to support the delivery of locally led primary prevention actions in their communities.

Program Delivery Steps

An overview of the key steps involved in delivering a Mentoring Program is outlined in below. A number of policies and procedures are available to support each step.

Key steps in delivering a Mentoring Program

Recruitment of mentors and mentees

• LDATs deliver a targeted recruitment strategy to attract appropriate mentors and young people
• Applications open for expressions of interest in mentor and mentee positions.

Screening and selections of mentors and mentees

• Mentor and mentee applicants are screened and checks/interviews undertaken to determine suitability.

Orientation and training of mentors and mentees

• Successful mentors and mentees undergo program orientation and complete training.

Matching mentors and mentees

• Mentees are matched with their mentor according to compatibility and personal suitability. Program staff introduce mentors and mentees and a Match Agreement is put in place to formalise the match before the Mentor Program meeting sessions commence.

Program commencement

Mentor Program meeting sessions commence. Mentors and mentees work through program modules and activities, covering relevant topics which are tailored to suit needs.

Monitoring and supporting the match

• Program staff provide regular supervision and support to mentors and mentees.

Closing the match

• Mentoring sessions conclude; program staff contact participants to conduct program closure and evaluation processes, including celebrating the positive impacts and successes of the Mentoring Program.

Resources required for successful delivery

All mentoring activities need to be adequately resourced. Below is an indicative list of resources required to deliver mentoring activities. LDATs may be able to provide some of these resources or work with partners who can provide additional support.

Resources:

• participants, including the availability of suitable mentors and mentees
• basic administrative tools - access to stationery and office supplies, printers, phones, printing, a workspace for administrative duties, skilled personnel to manage the mentoring activity knowledge/materials and/or funds to train, supervise and support mentors
• funds to cover costs/expenses of mentors (e.g. telephone, petrol, IT support, parking, public transport costs)
• venue for meetings – this may include in kind use of meeting rooms from a partner organisation, local library, community halls (your local council will have a list of available places for community use), or schools. It is not appropriate for meetings to be held in people’s homes
• funds for catering at events and meetings
• design and publication of promotional material
• implementation of a media campaign to publicise the activity
• funds to undertake police checks/Working With Children checks where necessary
• Insurance and liability coverage (where appropriate).