Matching

Matching mentors and mentees is really more of an art than a science. While effective matching certainly calls for impartial judgments, based upon objective facts and thorough assessments of the participants, it also calls for a healthy dose of intuition.

Compatibility factors

Have a look at some of the important criteria to consider in creating compatible matches:

• Needs
• Gender
• Location
• Age
• Race/Ethnicity
• Interests
• Values
• Personalities
• Life experiences
• Preferences

Matching methods

Different mentoring programs conduct the matching process in varying ways. Here are a few examples:

• Program staff select several confidential profiles of potentially compatible mentees for the mentor to read. The mentor then chooses the mentee with whom he or she feels most well-matched.
• In some mentoring programs - like school based ones - program staff work together with those who know the children's needs best - such as teachers - to make the most suitable match.
• Program staff take full responsibility for assigning mentors and mentees.
• Mentors and mentees interact in group activities, and have the opportunity to "self-match".
• Programs in which the parent has a role in the match often facilitate a meeting with the mentor and the selected mentee's parent prior to the match being finalized. The mentor and parent learn more about one another and ensure they can work together to meet the young person's needs. Following the meeting, they independently communicate to the program staff whether they are comfortable in going ahead with the match.

Regardless of how a match is made, the program must have a sound rationale for matching a mentor with a particular mentee.

Sealing the deal

Contracting is an important part of the matching process. Each party in the match signs a simple contract outlining the conditions of the match and their responsibilities in the match. Such an agreement emphasizes the importance of the commitment the participants are making, and encourages accountability. The mentor's contract may include a "code of conduct" that specifies ethical and behavioral expectations of them, including abiding by rules such as confidentiality and child safety policies. As part of the contracting process, mentors should also be provided with a job description.

The first meeting of the mentor and mentee is a critical element in the matching process. This meeting officially opens the match, and it can be an awkward event that creates some anxiety for both mentor and mentee. The program can help to encourage a positive first meeting by facilitating the introduction or suggesting non-threatening "ice-breaker" activities.

Your program should do all it can to maximize the chances of long-lived, successful mentoring relationships by matching with care. However, studies (Johnson, 1998; Sipe, 1996) have shown that the way the match is made has a much smaller impact on the success of the match than does the mentor's behavior in the match. It is therefore important for your program to develop ways to foster positive mentor behaviors and activities.

Have a look now at what your program can do to encourage constructive, relationship-building activities for its mentors and mentees.

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