Overview

Developing a formal youth mentoring programme requires proper planning and preparation. Allowing time to work through the practical steps outlined in this section will help to ensure higher quality and more effective mentoring. Programme development comprises four main stages: design, planning, management and evaluation.

Section 4 of the Guide to Effective Practice in Youth Mentoring covers these four stages in details. Here is a link to this: NZYMN Effective Practice Guide_Programme Development

The core components of each stage are summarised below:

Programme Design

• complete community needs assessment
• define programme outcomes and theory of change (TOC)
• establish programme scope
• design programme operational elements
• build a programme logic model

Programme planning

• develop plans to support the programme
• develop a policies and procedures manual
• consider relevant legislative requirements

Programme management

• programme governance - trustee board and/or advisory committee
• programme implementation
• programme staffing
• data collection and information management
• monitoring and process improvement

Programme evaluation

• quality evidence
• types of programme evaluation
• dissemination of evidence and action