Mentor Description

Canyon County Veterans Treatment Court Mentoring Program

The Canyon County Veteran’s Treatment Court Mentoring Program

Experience has shown that veterans are more likely to respond more favorably with another Veteran than with others who do not have similar experiences. It appears that when a veteran, who has found his or her way into the courts, is talking to another veteran, she/he would be more relaxed and less tense about their situation. It appears that these conversations between veterans are more on the level of peers rather than from a position of authority or professionalism. This change in demeanor is seen as an opportunity to make a deeper impact on the lives of the veterans that come into the courts. Based on these observations it appears clear that peer mentors are an essential addition to the Treatment Court team. It is anticipated that their active, supportive relationship, maintained throughout treatment will increase the likelihood that a veteran will remain in treatment and improve his or her chances for sobriety and law-abiding behavior.

Mission Statement of the Veteran’s Treatment Court Mentoring Program

The Mission of the Veteran’s Treatment Court Mentoring Program is for veterans to serve as mentors to fellow veterans who have entered the court system for various unlawful reasons. These veteran mentors will provide a trusted individual the veteran offender can relate to and confide in to help support the veteran through their readjustment to a productive civilian life. The veteran mentor will act as a mentor, advocate and ally.

Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator

Essential to the coordination, maintenance and success of the mentoring program is the mentoring Coordinator. The role of the Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator is to recruit, train, supervise, and coordinate mentors within the Veteran’s Treatment Court Diversion Program. The Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator is responsible for recruiting potential mentors, screening candidates, and selecting individuals to become Veteran Treatment Court Mentors. The Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator will be responsible for training selected candidates in skills to facilitate a mentoring session and skills specific to the Veteran’s Treatment Court Program. The Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator will also be responsible for individual and group supervision as well as scheduling mentors to be present during the Veteran’s Treatment Court proceedings. The Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator also must coordinate all activities with the Judge and the Veterans Treatment Court coordinator.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Mentor Coordinator:

Recruit and train volunteer Veteran’s Treatment Court mentors.
Assist in the retention of volunteer mentors.
Organize and conduct training for volunteer mentors.
Assist in supervision of mentors.
Assist in the development of specialized training projects for the program.

Volunteer Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Role Description

The role of the Volunteer Veterans Treatment Court Mentor is to act as a coach, a guide, a role model, an advocate, and a support for the individuals s/he is working with. The mentor is intended to encourage, guide, and support the mentee as s/he progresses through the court process. This will include listening to the concerns of the veteran and making general suggestions, assisting the veteran in determining what their needs are and supporting the veteran at a time when they may feel alone in a way that only another veteran can understand. The Role of the volunteer mentor is to act as a veteran advocate, be a resource if/when needed, and be a support the individual she/she is working with. The mentor is NOT a counselor, probation officer or case manager.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Attend court sessions when scheduled.
Maintain weekly contact with mentee.
Be supportive and understanding of the difficulties veterans face.

Assist the veterans as much as possible to resolve their concerns around the court procedures as well as interactions with the Veteran’s Affairs system.
Be supportive and helpful to the other mentors within the program.

Requirements:

Be a veteran of one of the branches of the United States Military, including the Army, Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or their corresponding Reserve or Guard branches
Adhere to all of the Canyon County Veteran’s Treatment Court Program policies and procedures
Commit to program participation for a minimum of six months
Complete the required training procedures
Participate in additional trainings throughout time of service

Desirable Qualities:

Willing listener
Encouraging and supportive
Tolerant and respectful of individual differences

Mentoring Program Policies

Recruitment Policy

The Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator assumes the majority of the responsibly for recruiting new mentors. Other members of the Canyon County Veteran’s Treatment Court Program as well as current mentors will support the Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator in these activities when necessary, including attending and hosting informational sessions.

Inquiry Policy

All inquiries concerning participation in the mentoring program, outside of an informational session or sharing the application and information sheet are directed to the Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator. It will be the responsibility of the Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator to contact any prospective mentors.

Eligibility Policy

Each mentor must meet the eligibility criteria in order to participate in the program. Extenuating circumstances may be reviewed at the discretion of the Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator.

Mentor Eligibility Requirements:

Be a veteran of one of the branches of the United States Military, including the Army, Marine Corp, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or their corresponding Reserve or Guard branches
To adhere to all of the Canyon County Veteran’s Treatment Court Program policies and procedures
To commit to program participation for a minimum of six months
To attend court sessions as scheduled
To complete the screening process
To complete the required training procedures
To participate in additional trainings throughout his/her time of service

Screening Policy

Each potential mentor must complete the screening procedure. The Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator will be responsible for walking each applicant through the screening procedure. This procedure will include completing a written application form and a personal interview if requested. The Mentor Coordinator will submit applicants to the Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator for a records check of Idaho State records. Results of the records check will be discussed at the weekly staffing meeting prior to the court. The decision to accept or reject an applicant will be made by the Veterans Treatment Court Judge and team. Any and all records will be kept confidential and maintained by the Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator.

Training Policy

All mentors must complete the required initial training procedures.

This procedure will include:

Observe several court sessions
Complete individual supervision with the Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator

Attend any mandatory mentor training.

Matching Policy

The Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator or designated representative will match mentors and participating veterans at each court appearance. As mentors are not always present at each court session the Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator or representative will have to match the available mentors with the mentees in need. Whenever possible the Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator will make matches based on the following criteria:

Combat or non-combat experience.
Male for male and female for female
Branch of service
Specific skill of a mentor matched to the need of a mentee
Similar age/gender/ethnicity

The Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator will also take into consideration the requests of the mentors and mentees, alike, in making matches.

Teambuilding

At least once a year all mentors will be recognized for their role in the Canyon County Veterans Court. The Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator is responsible for planning and implementing recognition activities. Possible recognition activities include; an annual recognition event, where mentors are recognized for their length of service to the mentoring program and/or utilizing outstanding mentors in the recruitment and training of new mentors.

Record-Keeping Policy

Each contact between mentor and mentee is documented in the Veteran Mentoring Log which will be updated at each court appearance by the mentor.

Confidentiality Policy

Mentors training will include a mandatory confidentiality workshop. Instructions on Federal and State confidentiality policy will be reviewed including but not limited to: what information should be kept confidential, who has access to confidential materials, what confidential information can be used for, how it will be kept confidential, and the limits of confidentiality. In addition, guidelines will be reviewed specific to what information should be included and should not be included in the veteran log as well as how information about the mentors will be protected.

Unacceptable Behavior Policy

It is the policy of the Canyon County Veteran’s Treatment Court Program that unacceptable behaviors by a mentor will not be tolerated while participating in the program. Behaviors that do not match with the mission, vision, goals, or values of the Veteran’s Treatment Court Program will be considered unacceptable and are prohibited during court proceedings and mentoring sessions. Any unacceptable behavior, as determined by the veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator, the Judge, or the Veterans Treatment Court Team, will result in a warning and/or disciplinary action including suspension or termination from the program.

Transporting of Veterans using Personal owned vehicles

Mentors will provide the Veterans Treatment Court Mentor Coordinator with a photocopy of their current driver’s license and insurance coverage along with a signed vehicle use agreement. A copy of this form can be found in the back of this manual.

Volunteer Veteran Mentor Job Description

The ideal Mentor is a veteran who acts as a coach, a guide, a role model, an advocate,and a strong support for the individuals s/he is working with. A mentor encourages and motivates the mentee as s/he progresses through the court process. This includes listening to the concerns of the mentee, making general suggestions, assisting the mentee in determining what their needs are and supporting the veteran at a time when they may feel alone in a way that only another veteran can understand. The mentor is NOT a counselor, probation officer or case manager.

You will need to attend court sessions, when your assigned participant attends, which occur on Mondays at 4pm before presiding Judge Bever

Participate with veterans who have come into contact with the criminal justice system

Be supportive and understanding of the difficulties veterans face

Assist the veterans as much as possible to resolve their concerns around the

Court procedures as well as interactions with the Veterans Affairs system

Be an advocate and a resource for participants when they encounter life problems and/or issues

Be supportive and helpful to the other mentors within the program

Coach

Advisor

Sponsor

Role Model

Supporter

Friend

Must have these qualities

Active listener

Empathetic

Encouraging and Supportive

Tolerant and respectful of individual differences

Have or would like to have knowledge of Veterans Affairs Services

Knowledge of Community Services

Goals of the Veterans Mentoring Program

Help our fellow veterans receive the services they need to reach their full

potential as productive members of society.

Help our fellow veterans navigate the court system, treatment system, and VA system.

Assess the needs of our fellow veterans and help them adjust back to civilian life