On screen text: "Reentry Mentorship Training"
On screen text: "These modules were developed by the Massachusetts Office of Community Corrections under contract with the National Center for State Courts and with the support of the State Justice Institute, grant number SJI-20-T-027. The points of view expressed are those of the Massachusetts Office of Community Corrections and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the State Justice Institute."
On screen text: "Reentry Mentorship Training"
Female Narrator: Welcome to re-entry mentorship training. As a re-entry mentor, this training is designed to help you support individuals recently released from incarceration as they reenter their communities. This includes helping those individuals identify and navigate basic services and resources, as well as providing them with non-therapeutic support.
On screen text: "Overall Goal"
Female Narrator: The overall goal of this training is threefold. Specifically, it is intended to provide you with an understanding of:
- Your role in assisting mentees successfully navigate re-entry
- The key concepts pertaining to mentoring recently released individuals
- And, where to find information on resources and support services to help mentees during the re-entry process
On screen text: "Example Scenarios"
Female Narrator: It will also walk you through some scenarios you're likely to encounter in your role as a mentor to help you understand how to successfully navigate those situations.
Before we get into these areas of discussion though, let's briefly go over some of the features of this course. This training is divided into three short modules that you can take online at your own pace. In this module, module 1, you will gain a firm understanding of the key aspects of mentorship, including how to stay safe in your role and create boundaries. You will also be introduced to the basic aspects of the justice system that will be essential in assisting the mentee in navigating their re-entry from incarceration.
In module 2, you will gain a deeper understanding of mentee needs during reentry. You will learn how to engage and support mentees during the reentry process and how to identify and respond to mentee behaviors that may impact reentry success.
Finally, in module 3, you will learn how to prepare for initial meetings with the mentee. The module will also help you develop essential skills for maintaining a healthy mentor/mentee relationship over time.
At the end of this training, you'll also receive recommendations for other in-person and live virtual activities to support your connection with other mentors and allow you to participate in peer sharing opportunities.
On screen text: "What is a Mentor?"
Female Narrator: Now, let's move on and start by taking a look at who a reentry mentor is. A reentry mentor is someone who volunteers to help a person navigate their reentry back into the community after a period of incarceration. Reentry mentors can be invaluable in helping recently released individuals understand, get connected to, and navigate the services and resources they need throughout the reentry process.
Historically, mentors and mentorship programs have been used successfully in many contexts. For example, you may be familiar with youth, veteran, employee, and student mentorship programs, in which guidance is provided by an experienced person or institution.
In each of these examples, evidence shows that these types of mentor programs work by helping the mentee gain the skills they need for success.
The same holds true for reentry mentorship programs. For instance, studies have shown that individuals reentering the community with a mentor:
- Have a lower chance of reoffending
- Are more likely to find and maintain employment,
- And, are more likely to achieve their reentry goals than those without a mentor.
You may also be asking yourself, who are the mentees? For the purposes of this training, mentees include individuals released to Community Supervision, or released straight to the community with no required supervision.
However, mentees may be different across programs. So, it is best to check with your specific sponsoring organization to learn more about the mentees you may be paired with.
Let's now discuss the goal of the mentor/mentee relationship. Simply stated, the goal of the mentor/mentee relationship is that the mentor will assist the mentee in achieving tasks that will result in a successful reintegration back into the community.
The mentor/mentee relationship should provide a functional benefit to the mentee, rather than mere emotional support or encouragement. That is, the mentor will teach the mentee how to do sometimes simple tasks, like opening a bank account, purchasing a phone, or even getting T pass. With your mentee, it is important to establish a healthy connection and rapport. There are several reasons to foster this positive relationship.
First, a mentor provides their mentee with practical support in navigating the reentry process. The mentor also assists the mentee in accessing needed services and programs and complying with court-ordered requirements.
A constructive relationship helps increase the likelihood that the mentee's reentry process is successful and that they achieve stability and long-term success. It also decreases the likelihood that the mentee will reoffend and be reincarcerated.
To help achieve these goals, the mentor takes on several important roles. For example, the mentor is a navigator of the legal and other systems the mentee needs to access. They are also a connector to helpful and needed programs and services, as well as a coach to help motivate the mentee and help them stay focused on their goals.
The mentor is also a problem-solver by helping the mentee respond to obstacles and challenges in ways that keep them on the road to success.
Finally, the mentor is a listener, providing the mentee with a place to share their challenges and successes and release stress in a supportive and pro-social way.
There are also several things a mentor's role does not include. For example, the mentor is not an enforcer. The mentee likely has a parole or probation officer for that. The mentor is also not responsible for being the mentee's therapist. You may not be trained or authorized to offer mental health advice under this mentoring program.
You are also not a financial resource or provider, in that you are not expected to provide direct financial support to your mentee.
Finally, you are not a driver. You may not provide transportation to your mentee, but you can help them attain transportation assistance, like bus passes.
It is also important to remember that a mentor is there to provide unilateral support to the mentee. You may not ask your mentee for support. Only discuss problems or challenges you have faced as an example of how to surmount challenges, not to solicit the mentee's help or advice.
Besides you and your mentee, there are also some other key players in the mentee's reentry process. These may include a probation or parole officer, who is responsible for enforcing the mentee's court-ordered obligations, and a case manager, who, like the mentor, helps link the mentee with appropriate resources, but also reports information and monitors conditions imposed by the court.
Program providers also play a key role in the reentry process, as they provide many of the needed services and resources to recently released individuals. These services and resources may include housing or support finding employment, substance abuse, and other treatment programs and other health and social services.
A public benefit administrator may also be involved if the mentee needs help enrolling in or otherwise accessing public benefits, like Social Security, SNAP, and more.
On screen text: "SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program"
Female Narrator: It's important to know who the other players in your mentee's reentry process are so you can provide useful support in navigating their sometimes complex reentry requirements, be a valuable player on their reentry team, and know who they can turn to for their various needs.
Up until this point, we have discussed some of the ways you can support your mentee and who else may be involved in the process, but that is not to say that the mentee does not also have some responsibilities in this arrangement. For instance, the mentee likely will have legal obligations post-release, called conditions of probation or conditions of parole, if they have been released early. If the mentee is on community supervision, this can include regular visits with their probation or parole officer and mandatory participation in classes or programs through the Community Justice Support Center, or Support Center for short. They may also have to remain drug and alcohol free and submit to regular drug testing, stay away from certain people or places, or adhere to other court ordered conditions.
If the mentee is not on Community Supervision, they may have no court-mandated requirements, meaning their sentence and obligation to the court is complete. However, these individuals still likely have needs for services, programs, and assistance in reentering the community. For example, they may still voluntarily attend Support Center classes.
On screen text: "Boundaries"
Understanding each other's roles and responsibilities can contribute to a successful mentor/mentee relationship. It can also contribute to the overall success of the program, helping to ensure that the mentee has a better likelihood of reaching their reentry goals However, maintaining clear boundaries is another element that helps determine the success of the mentor/mentee relationship. For this reason, let's discuss in more detail what boundaries are and how to set them.
Boundaries are a limit on what the relationship can and can't be. They should be established early on and should be clear and understood by all parties. This creates safety by providing a consistent environment and expectations for building a supportive relationship.
So, how do you establish boundaries in your mentor/mentee relationship? Here are a few tips.
- First, discuss the boundaries early on in your relationship with the mentee. This helps prevent later confusion or misunderstanding.
- Lay out clear do's and don'ts for the relationship. This helps define what is acceptable and what is not.
- Be consistent. A fair application of the rules helps create fairness and promotes mutual understanding. And,
- When a situation arises that would push you outside of your set boundaries, explain clearly why you cannot participate. Remind all parties of the agreed upon boundaries and why they are there.
Other ways to maintain safety and appropriate boundaries, details of which will be covered in later modules, include:'
- Active listening, and not fixing
- Focusing on motivational interviewing and goal setting, not being a therapist, and
- Understanding criminogenic needs and substance use issues.
On screen text: "Mock scenarios"
Female Narrator: Now that we've covered some important aspects of the reentry mentorship program, let's take a look at a sample scenario and think about options for how to respond based on what you've learned so far.
You and your mentee have met a few times already and it is part of your arrangement with your sponsoring organization that you do not provide actual transportation as part of your mentor responsibilities. During your fourth meeting, your mentee tells you that he doesn't have money for the bus and has no way to get home after your meeting. He then asks you for a ride home. What would be the best response for this situation?
[Long pause]
Female Narrator: The best response to this situation is one that is in line with your sponsoring organization's policies and one that will help you maintain appropriate boundaries for the duration of your relationship with your mentee.
In this scenario, you might start by explaining the limitations that keep you from being able to provide transportation, such as by reminding your mentee about the organization's policy on transportation. You may also let your mentee know that you can assist them with getting help with bus fare or other transportation options in the future, if that is within the purview of your sponsoring program.
Again, the important factors as you think about your response to a situation are:
- To consider what your organization permits, and
- To maintain and reinforce consistent boundaries that you can and should keep over time with your mentee, reminding your mentee what those boundaries are and why they're there as necessary.
On screen text: "Resource Materials"
Female Narrator: One of your key responsibilities as a reentry mentor will be helping connect your mentee with resources in the community. Let's also take the opportunity to discuss some materials that can help you in your role.
[Image of the Coming Home directory]
One comprehensive resource is Coming Home, a directory of reentry services available to people returning from incarceration to Greater Boston.
On screen text: "Coming Home - A Guide for Returning Citizens. CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) - friendly companies"
Female Narrator: This document includes information on:
- CORI-friendly companies, companies friendly to hiring those with previous justice system involvement
- Mental health clinics
- Assistance in attaining health insurance
- Recovery support centers
- AA meetings
- NA meetings
- Substance use helpline agencies
- Food pantries
- Information on how to open a PO box, and more
The website also lists contact information for agencies across Massachusetts, from Springfield to Lowell and New Bedford.
Keep in mind that information and materials can change over time, so make sure to check with your sponsoring program for the most up-to-date resources.
On screen text: "Closing"
We hope this module has helped you gain a better understanding of reentry mentorship and some of the key concepts pertaining to assisting mentees successfully navigate reentry into their communities. We also hope that you are better equipped to find information and resources that will help you succeed in your role as a reentry mentor.
On screen text: "This concludes Module 1"