Making Connections Introduction July 29, 2010

What What is Making Connections? Comprehensive, user friendly, web-based relationship-building skills training for adults working with youth that – –Develops new skills to respond to changing situations, –Reinforces existing, making them stronger Built by task force of experts who care including – –Educators – all levels –Mentors – both volunteer and professional –Community Leaders – non-profits and foundations serving youth –Business Leaders – concerned about and contributing to education For building strong relationships with youth it includes – –Nine chapters – for sequel learning or in-the-moment problem-solving –Activities – for both mentors and teachers –Resource library and individual lesson references for deeper digging –On-line personal journal for self-reflection –Blog to encourage the community to share its lessons –Streaming videos, quotes and tips to appeal to all learners

Addresses the Challenges What are the common concerns of new volunteers? What keeps volunteers coming back? How do we make volunteers more successful?

Making Connections has 9 Lessons Who Is At-Risk? Get to Know Your Students Characteristics of Effective Relationships How to Build Effective Relationships Cultural Competence Builds Relationships It Takes a Village Families and School – Creating Ties that Bind Another Type of Relationship Community Relationships – Thinking Outside the Building

Making Connections’ mission is to improve relationship-building skill of adults working youth. There are 3 ways to use Making Connections. Self-paced learning Trainer-led online or in-person learning Customized training for your organization

1.Self-paced learning on your own schedule The ability to go directly to topics within the set curriculum without taking the full course. Activities that are immediately available to use with youth. An extensive resource library sorted by topic. An online journal for self-reflection and recording information and ideas gained. Streaming videos with helpful tips from others who have had positive experiences building relationships and keeping youth in school. Blog is available for sharing ideas and trading tips.

2. Trainer-led online or in-person learning Select an Making Connections chapter(s) and use to teach how to build strong, positive, lasting relationships with youth through a process of self- reflection, collaborative inquiry, and critical discourse. Online reflection and discussion provides opportunities to share best practices, explore challenges, and consider solutions and ideas with others. Get immediate feedback and constant interaction with the trainer and peers. Class can be used as part of a certification process for mentors in your organization.

3. Customized, in-person Training your Organization Familiarize educators, volunteers, and mentors with the basics of Making Connections. Walk through the sample lessons with mentors, educators, and volunteers. Offer ideas about how to use the activities and assignments. “Train the trainers” by teaching the leaders of schools and organizations how to use the tool.

Broad-Based & Comprehensive

Creative assignments help you develop a plan of action

. Watch videos filled with helpful tips

Capture your thoughts in the online journal. Share ideas, make connections, and ask questions in the community blog.

Where did Making Connections Come From? Frustration with the drop-out rate – prompted the Jubitz Family Foundation to initially fund exploration of the issue exposing limited cultural competency training options for mentors and teachers Innovation Partnership – a non-profit organization that tackles persistent community problems, accepted the challenge to research the issue and develop a mitigation strategy Multi-Cultural Research Team Literature Review – determined that cultural competency training was fragmented, intermittent, inadequate Inconsistent Funding – as primary limitation to on-going, quality training prompted concept of on-line tool available 24/7 Community Project – Making Connections was developed by educators, mentors, community and business leaders

Based on Research “The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives on High School Dropouts” John Bridgeland, John Dilulio, Karen Burke Morison, Civic Enterprises “Building Relationships for Student Success” Diane Dorman and Amy Fisher, NW Regional Education Laboratory “Collaborative Family-School Relationships for Children’s Learning” Don Fleming, PhD, Virginia Department of Education “50 Years Down the Road: Have We Lost Our Way?” Angela Stephens McIntosh, PhD, Tonika Duren Green, PhD, Scarecrow Education “Using Cross Cultural Communication to Improve Relationships” Orlando L. Taylor, PhD, Mid-Atlantic Center “Peer Relationships and Friendship”, Jeong Jin Yu, Karen Hoffman Tepper and Stephen T. Russell, University of Arizona

Development Team Donna Beegle, PhD, Communication Across Barriers Debbie Ellis, NW Regional Education Laboratory Debbie Hornibrook, PhD Poverty Bridge Joshua Jacobs Mandala Designs Tobi Kibel Piatek SynerGenii Creative Communications Ruth Scott Innovation Partnership Pilot Test Sites Boston University School of Social Work Friends of Children Northwest Regional Education Laboratory Open Meadows Alternative Schools SMART, Bend, Portland Curriculum Review Panel Shauna Adams, PhD, Lewis & Clark College Pat Burk, Oregon Department of Education Gerald Deloney, Self Enhancement Inc. Nanci Luna Jimenez, Jimenez Seminars Andy Nelson, Hands on Portland Dan Prince, Outdoor Schools Franki Trujello-Dalby, Intercultural Communications Institute

Making Connections is an easy to use, readily accessible, online training tool around relationship building. It makes training sessions easier, offers new training ideas.

Benefits Reduce Turnover; Help Recruit, Train and Retain volunteers; Increase Effectiveness of Staff and Volunteers; Provide a Skills Reference and Guide that can be Used Again and Again.

Making Connections Advisory Board Ken Thrasher, Chair Complí Lisa Aasheim Portland State University Kristine Baggett Beaverton Schools Foundation Carolyn Becic Oregon Mentors Jay Bloom Bloom Anew Theressa Davis Comcast Michael Garringer Northwest Regional Ed Lab Tom Keller Portland State University Thomas LaPierre Big Brothers Big Sisters Charles McGee Black Parent Initiative Steffeni Mendoza Gray City of Portland Randy Miller Moore Co. David Roy Knowledge Learning Corporation Von Summers NW Natural Linda Wright Coldwell Banker Barbara Sue Seal Properties