Success Mentor Training: Trauma-Informed Mentoring
Facilitator Tips & Recommendations
Introduction to Trauma-Informed Mentoring Training for Mentors
Many young people have faced traumatic experiences that can create challenges their lives and relationships. Mentors may not be aware of young people’s traumatic experiences, even when they know their mentees well. This training, created by Midlands Mentoring Partnership, will help your Success Mentors understand the potential impacts of trauma on young people, and what they can do to support mentees’ healing and recovery. This training can also be delivered to mentoring program coordinators. The following materials are provided to help school personnel deliver this training:
- Trauma-Informed Mentoring Training Slide Deck, with Facilitator’s Notes
- What’s my ACE Score? Handout
- Compassion Fatigue Handout
- Professional Quality of Life Scale
- Training Evaluation
This training has three core components:
- Overview of Trauma
- Trauma & Mentoring
- Taking Care of Yourself
As you review the slide deck, you will find places to insert information about your own specific program. We encourage you to adapt this training slide deck to fit the specific needs of your audience and community to reflect your specific program goals.
Within the PowerPoint Presentation, you will find optional tips and videos to include, as well as additional resources that can be provided.
How This Training Should Be Delivered
This training is designed only for delivery to adults.
Trauma can be a very triggering topic for many adults, especially those who have experienced trauma or worked with individuals who have. As a result, it is essential that the facilitator of this training lay the groundwork for participants to take breaks from the experience as needed. It is recommended that two facilitators be present during this training, both to support one another’s delivery of the content, and to give one facilitator the ability to check on participants throughout the training if needed. Facilitators should also take the time to set group norms with participants to create a supportive environment where they feel empowered to take breaks as needed, ask questions, and express concerns. Take the time to orient your participants to the training environment, let them know where the bathrooms and water fountains are, etc.
This training can be used for mentors or mentoring program coordinators, as both audiences will benefit from this content in their work with youth. The slide entitled “Trauma-Informed Care: Implications for Mentoring” can be removed for an audience of mentors. This slide reviews information relevant to mentoring program coordinators with regard to how programs are managed and set up to support youth who have faced trauma.
Need Additional Help?
It is important for facilitators to feel comfortable with content about trauma prior to delivering this training to mentors. Mental health professionals in your school or community may be able to partner with you to deliver this training and answer specific questions that mentors and staff may have about trauma. Reach out to your local affiliate for additional help, or contact Delia Hagan at MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, at .