| OCR Text |
Show Objective 3: IRC will ensure that volunteers will be provided with sufficient training. Current Practice: 5 .2.3 .1 We have already covered much of the current practices relating to training and the lack of understanding that family mentors have regarding: refugee processing, cultural norms, IRC services, the role of case manager verses family mentor, as well as the value of the distributed materials. But, I would like to address another aspect of training that has not been discussed thus far. Case managers as a whole feel that family mentors can easily become overwhelmed in their attempts to absorb all of the information that is discussed in the one Family Mentor Training. One case manager said, "J think that it is important to realize that if we give the mentors all the information up front it is overwhelming. But, the information should come out in different formats maybe some written; some in follow-up meetings, etc. But, the understanding needs to be that we are sharing information with a mentor who is working as a partner with us. Which means that we need to know what you are doing" (CMFG). All of the other IRC staff nodded to this comment in agreement. 5.2.3.2 Family mentors also expressed their anxiety about the wealth of information as well as their failure to comprehend the potential value of it during the training prior to their mentoring. While family mentors are frustrated with the lack of training that they have received, the majority of mentors agreed that it would be impossible to prepare an individual for becoming a family mentor in one training (FG 1). It is clear that both case managers and family mentors are interested in expanding training beyond the one Family Mentor Training that is currently taking place. Focus group one discussed this mentor's statement, "It would be great to know some other mentors so that I could have someone to come along and play with the kids while I work with the mother on literacy. The older kids in my family also need help with their homework. I am interested in getting together and discussing stuff with other mentors like we are tonight. That empowers me as mentor. It would be great if!RC oversaw opportunities like that or we could just set them up ourselves" (FG 1). 5.2.3.3 It is important to take into consideration the obstacle of motivating mentors to commit to investing more time with training or anything else having to do with the Family Mentor Program beyond their time spent with the refugee families. Family mentors concurred with this statement (FG 1). But, one-third of the mentors also expressed that they were frustrated because when they have offered suggestions to IRC in the past relating to training, they have not been heard. These mentors are not interested in volunteering more of their time because they believe IRC will not be consistent or willing to make suggested changes. One family mentor remarked, "Well, I gave up because every time I would email, I had suggestions and I just never heard back or saw changes. So, what do I think would be useful for !RC to know about, I don't feel matters because they are not in a position to do anything or at least they won't and they haven't in the past, its irritating. It seems like they have no structure and we 're all doing things on the fly" (12). 22 of22 |
