Mentorship Guidelines

  • Although mentors are expected to make the initial contact and keep in touch with their mentees, either member of the pair can take initiative in the relationship.
  • Both mentors and mentees respect their partner’s time as much as they respect their own. The program expects pairs to meet for approximately one hour each month; meetings can be one-on-one, via telephone, electronically (Internet), or in any other manner agreed upon by both parties.
  • Mentees should feel free to ask for advice, and mentors are resources for mentees with the understanding that mentors do not have all the answers! With the mentees’ permission, mentors will seek out others advice, if needed.
  • Mentors should not attempt to handle situations for which they are not qualified; rather, they should refer their mentee to any DHS (or other) resource when needed.
  • Mentors provide honest, sensitive feedback when asked. Mentees listen thoughtfully to critiques, suggestions, and positive feedback.
  • Mentors are good listeners, and consider their mentees’ needs.
  • Mentors and mentees work together to develop, establish, and meet realistic, obtainable goals. They can set short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals - whichever suits the pair and the identified goals.
  • Mentors and mentees follow through on commitments.
  • Mentors and mentees keep confidences and maintain the highest standards of professionalism and ethical behavior. The entire Mentor-Mentee communication should be conducted with the utmost confidentiality, and substance of the Mentor-Mentee communication should not be included in the Mentors’ program evaluation.
  • Mentors encourage their mentees to become an integral part of the DHS community through networking, and when appropriate, to become future mentors.
  • Mentors and mentees periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the mentoring relationship. They assess whether or not (and why or why not) they are meeting the goals identified.