Getting Started on the Platform
Matching with Mentees
The Mentoring Process
Continuing Education
Getting Started on the Platform
2. Building Your Mentor Profile
Why it Matters
Profile Sections
- It is the first impression mentees have of you
- It makes it less intimidating for mentees to reach out
- the AI Algorithm uses pieces of your profile to suggest you to mentees
Please add a clear profile picture of you smiling. This is really important for mentees to put a face to the name!
Add your:
- Location
- not specific address just general location
- Languages
- only add the ones you are proficient in
- About Me
- space to share a bio and why you are a mentor
- Pronouns
Add your:
- Age Range
- Involvement in Foundation
- Location
- Gender Identity
- Communities You Are a Part of
- You can also add your own
This section allows you to showcase your journey with IBD in a way that allows mentees to find someone who has had a similar disease experience
Add as little or as much as you feel comfortable sharing! (Remember, all members of the Power of Two Program can view this)
This section allows you to showcase your personality and gives potential mentees conversation starters to talk about
This section allows you to showcase what times and ways you prefer to connect. Make sure this is up to date frequently
Only select the modes of communication you are most comfortable with. You don’t need to select them all if you don’t want to!
REMINDER: Do NOT be available at all times
HOW TO EDIT YOUR PROFILE
- Log in to your account
- On the upper right hand side, make sure you are toggled into “Power of Two Program”
- Click on your profile picture on the top right and toggle down
- Click “Edit Profile”
- Update profile sections and click “Save” to save your changes
3. Connecting to your Mentee
MESSAGING
VOICE ONLY
VIDEO CALL
Check your mentees profile to see if they specified how they prefer to communicate
Some mentees may prefer messages while others may prefer videos or voice, and some might like a mix of all the above
How to Access Messages
Click on the Connection
Click on the message button
Scheduling Voice Calls
After you login, your homepage will look like this.
Click “Set Up A Meeting”
Specify in the title “Voice Call”
Pick a date & Time
Click Video, but when you join the video leave your cameras OFF
Click Create
Joining Voice Calls
When you join click the button highlighted below to turn your camera off
Once you turn your camera off click “Join Now”
When you sign in all you will be able to see is your profile picture
Scheduling Video Calls
After you login, your homepage will look like this.
Click “Set Up A Meeting”
Add a title for the meeting, can be as simple as “Meeting”
Pick a date & Time
Specify the meeting mode
Click Create
Joining Video Calls
After you join the call, you will see YOURSELF
Click on your mentees name to pin the video and then click the triangle to go back to the call
When your mentee joins it’ll notify you on the bottom
You should then see your mentee on your screen
In order to view your mentee, click the triangle next to your profile picture
Click the toggle to access other features like the messaging function or notes
FEATURES:
share screen
turn off camera
mute
4. Accessing Other Resources
BROWSING PROFILES
- Log in
- Make screen full screen
- On right hand side click “Browse People”
- Choose who you’d like to browse
- View profiles and send a message
feel free to reach out to other mentors and introduce yourself!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
- Log in
- Make screen full screen
- On right hand side click “Community” then click “Q&A”
- Click plus button on top right to ask questions
- Click on questions you’d like to answer
ONLY mentors can answer questions. If you ever see any strange questions please flag us.
FINDING RESOURCES
- Log in
- Make screen full screen
- On right hand side click “Community” then click “Resources”
- Scroll through the various resources and use what is helpful for you
Mentees also have access to resources, so if they have trouble with the app point them here
CONNECTION PLANS & SURVEYS
Mentee: Opening Survey
Mentor: Closure Survey
Mentee: Closure Survey
Please encourage your mentee to take the surveys.
These surveys help us understand the success of the program and find ways to improve it.
The surveys have been improved and should take 5 minutes to take
Matching with Mentees
Making Matches
Before accepting a match, ask yourself:
Do I have the capacity to take on another mentee?
Do I feel like I would be a good match for this person?
Does this person need more support than I can provide?
Do I understand my mentees needs and goals?
Would support groups or other programs be a better fit?
Accepting Requests
Please note:
It might take some time to get requests from mentees so please be patient
- Log into the app
- Click the toggle on the upper left to ensure you are in the Power of Two program
- Requests will pop up immediately
- Click “View Request”
- Then Click “Accept” or “Decline”
After Accepting a Request
Introduce yourself and
say hello!
“Hi [mentee], it is so nice to meet you! Thank you for connecting with me and welcome to the Power of Two program. I am excited to meet you, and I wanted to share a little bit more about myself. I am [insert some fun facts about you, share about your IBD journey, etc.]. What is your preferred mode of communication?”
Declining Requests
It is ok to decline a request if you won’t be a good fit!
“Hi [name]! Thank you for reaching out and requesting a connection. Unfortunately I am not taking on more connections at this time. I do not think we would be a good fit because [insert reason here]. Feel free to browse the other mentors and send more requests or reach out to powerof2@crohnscolitisfoundation.org”
Things to Keep in Mind
We ask that you reply to requests as soon as possible, but preferably within 2 days.
If another mentor accepts the mentee’s request before you do, it will disappear
Mentoring requests auto close within
10 days
If You Aren’t Getting Requests
If it has been longer than 3 months and you haven’t received a request please let us know. Sometimes we have people reach out to us directly to be connected and we can help facilitate that connection
The Mentoring Process
The Typical Process
It is different for EVERYONE, but here is what is typical:
3 month long process
Meet 1-2 times a month
Working towards a goal
1. Getting Started
The first month of the mentoring relationship is about:
getting to know one another
clarifying expectations & boundaries
building rapport with one another
creating a structure for meetings
exploring issues identified by the mentee
acknowledging strengths of the mentee
Try to gather some basic information about them, and share some about yourself:
- Who is in their family?
- What do they do for work?
- What are their hobbies and interests?
- What is there educational background?
Remember to review their profile and ask them questions about what they’ve already shared
The First Meeting Check List
Welcome
Introduce yourself
Provide an overview of Power of Two
Discuss the mentees goals
Frequency of communication
Response time
Your availability to connect
Set Expectations
Boundaries & Privacy
Explain confidentiality
Inform them of when you need to break confidentiality
Share boundaries
Clarify Your Role
Outline the things you can and can not assist with
Discuss your expectations of them in the space
Share Your IBD Story
Share your story
Ask questions about their story
Ask about other support systems
Creating a Structure
Sample Mentoring Meeting Structure
Small Talk & Catch Up
Reflect on Progress
Discussion About Topic or Goal
Breaking it Down & Resource Sharing
Establishing Next Steps
try to give your mentee something actionable to do by the next meeting
It’s ok if your meetings do not look like this. We encourage you to use your own style of communicating, but this is a format to follow if you feel stuck!
Addressing Strengths
When living with IBD, you have to pull on many interpersonal strengths.
When you see your mentee utilizing one of their strengths, tell them!
Common Strengths You May Notice
resilience:
the ability to bounce back
self-awareness:
being aware of internal needs
adaptability:
learning to adjust as needed
empathy:
being understanding of others
problem-solving skills:
finding solutions to challenges
persistence:
not giving up on goals
resourcefulness:
being proactive and seeking out info to manage their health
courage:
demonstrating bravery in managing their health
2. Working Towards Goals
The second month of the mentoring relationship is about:
clarifying things the mentee is currently struggling with
understanding their IBD journey
establishing goals to work on
continue to acknowledge mentees strengths
work together on
actionable tasks
Clarify What the Mentee Is Struggling With
- Review their profile and ask them about the topics they selected
- Bring up things they have already shared, “I noticed you mentioned that you’ve been having a hard time at doctors appointments, is that something you’d like to work on?”
If your mentee is well adjusted and not struggling with anything, that is ok!
Understand their IBD Journey
- Ask questions about what they already listed in their profile
- Remember that everyone’s journey with IBD is very different
- Share pieces of your own journey to encourage them to open up about theirs
TIP:
Utilize Our IBD Topic Starters Listed In Their Profile!
Establish Goals to Work On
Help your mentee find one actionable thing to work on:
- Goals can be specific
- “Improve communication with my healthcare team by preparing questions before appointments, organizing my medical records, and speaking openly.”
- Goals can be vague
- “Get more comfortable talking about IBD”
3. Wrapping Up
The last month of the mentoring relationship is about:
acknowledging your mentees progress
connect them with other resources
addressing feelings and concerns about coming to an end
Acknowledge Progress
- Reflect on the mentoring journey and any progress that your mentee has made
- “I noticed you’ve been a lot more open around talking about your IBD since we first met”
If the progress was small or minimal, that is ok! Acknowledge, the fact that they have been trying
“I wanted to say that it has been so great getting to know you and I am proud of how hard you’ve been working to adjust to your new diagnosis of IBD”
Reflecting on Progess
Some questions to ask your mentee:
- How do you feel about the progress you’ve made towards your goal since we started working together?
- How has your approach to managing your health and IBD changed over the past weeks/months?
- What have been the most challenging aspects of living with IBD recently, and how have you been coping with these challenges?
- How has your understanding of IBD evolved and how has this knowledge impacted your daily routines?
A Good Close
express gratitude
thank them for the opportunity to learn more about them and mentor them
review progress
reflect on the things they achieved and the things they haven’t achieved yet
connect to other supports
help connect them to support groups or the help center if they need further support
move forward
create a clear path for them moving forward with next steps
Continuing Education
Continuing Education
and more!
Stay tuned for our mentor newsletter and other ways to stay in touch
