Mindful Mentoring®: A Training Workshop for Footsteps Mentors

By Sandra Coyle, Ph.D.

As our Statement of Purpose makes clear, Footsteps to the Future, Inc. (hereafter, Footsteps), is a mentoring program designed to match young women currently in, or about to “age out” of (at 18), foster care with role model adult women who agree to be their mentor for at least two years. Our program seeks to attract caring women who can inspire, encourage and guide young mentees along their paths toward achievement of the skills and knowledge necessary for them to live successful, independent adult lives. We also recognize that because young Footsteps women have unique needs and challenges, a unique mentor training program would be necessary, as well. Such a training program would need to help make new mentors mindful of and sensitive to the various circumstances and special needs often facing our young Footsteps participants.

In 2003, Footsteps founder Judi Woods presented me with the opportunity—and a challenge—to develop such a training program. After much research, meditation and prayer, the idea of a mindful mentoring approach to the training came to me. A mentoring program approached mindfully would be one that fosters growth and development among our Footsteps participants that is consciously undertaken, purposefully organized and directed, and lovingly aware of the fine line between empowering and enabling. Later that year, it was my privilege to develop and facilitate the first “Mindful Mentoring® Workshop” for mentors and program administrators. In the past six years, the workshop has been conducted numerous times, involving more than 35 participants in the program. Our current goal is to continue recruiting enough new mentors to conduct one training each quarter of the year.

During this six-hour workshop, participants are provided with fundamental lessons on how children typically develop and learn. We also discuss how attitudes and behavior can be adversely impacted when children are not provided an opportunity to develop successfully during the early stages of life. New mentors are then presented with tools to assist them in preparing to meet and get to know their new mentee, communicating effectively with their mentee, and coaching their mentee through goal-setting and problem-solving discussions.

It is helpful to remember that the word “mentoring” has its origins in the Greek word meaning enduring: a sustained relationship between and youth and an adult. The Mindful Mentoring® training is committed to reflecting the spirit of that definition, as well as the belief that through consistent, enduring involvement, one dedicated mentor can virtually change the course of a youth’s life, from one of misfortune to one of achievement and self-sufficiency. If you or anyone you know would like to learn more about becoming a Footsteps mentor, or this valuable training, please contact Judi Woods at 239.275.5834 or judiwoods2@earthlink.net.