PAIR MENTOR PILOT: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE Kathryn Berry Carter, CAVS, CVA Director, Volunteer Services.

PAIR MENTOR PILOT:PAIR MENTOR PILOT:PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

Kathryn Berry Carter, CAVS, CVADirector, Volunteer Services

Why Parent Mentoring?Why Parent Mentoring?

• Enhance family-centered environment

• Personal experience of FAC members• Exists informally; opportunity to

formalize• Evidence based research• Right thing to do; be the best in FCC

BenchmarkingBenchmarking

• Training at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, CA

• Site visit, Children’s Memorial Hospital, IL

• Q/A Session, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, TN

• Site visit, Cook Children’s Medical Center, TX

Why Pilot Method?Why Pilot Method?

Stated Grant GoalsStated Grant Goals1) Offer newly diagnosed families at St. Jude a

trained parent-mentor, offering the unique understanding and encouragement that another parent who has walked a similar path can provide.

2) Provide the family with peer support while facilitating coping mechanisms and hope.

3) Empower providers and the family as partners in their communication with St. Jude staff regarding their child’s treatment.

4) Provide a resource of services offered by St. Jude and the community.

PAIR Mentor Pilot ScopePAIR Mentor Pilot Scope

• Limited scope: Solid Tumor and Leukemia Services

• March, 2012 – August, 2012• 3 Mentors/ 12 Mentees

Parents Assisting Inspiring Reassuring

Pilot Team MembersPilot Team Members

• Administrative leadership: Volunteer Services Director, Admin, Intern

• Parent-led by 4 FAC members• Interdisciplinary staff team• Psychology• Faculty sponsor

Mentor IdentificationMentor Identification

• Off active therapy• Positive treatment outcome• Local• Referrals from staff• Successful screening interview

Mentor “On-boarding”Mentor “On-boarding”

• Background check• Occupational Health clearance• Volunteer orientation• 6 hour training, given by

implementation team • Shadowing and competency sign-off

Training ThemesTraining Themes

Part 1:

• Logistics• Boundaries• Emotional impact• Content of

sessions• Sharing your story

Part 2:

• Communication skills

• Critical times for families

• End of life• When and how to

call for help

Mentor Boundaries Mentor Boundaries • Mentors are: – Companions on the journey– Good listeners– Fully present– Peer supporters– Referral sources– Providers of coping strategies– Promoters of staff/parent partnerships– Role models

Mentor BoundariesMentor Boundaries

• Mentors are NOT:– Family members or friends– Providers of medical information– Caregivers, babysitters, messengers,

chauffeurs– Counselors

Match ProcessMatch Process

• New family referred by psychosocial team through rounds

• Parent volunteer invites those referred

• Upon acceptance, VS matches • Mentor makes contact within 48

hours

Progress ReportProgress Report

• Number approached: 28• Matches in progress: 12– Solid Tumor service: 8– Leukemia service: 4

• Number of sessions/ encounters: 89

Progress ReportProgress Report

• Place of encounter– Housing facility– Hospital public areas– Clinic– Inpatient areas– Outside hospital, including one

encounter at a McDonald’s

Mode of CommunicationMode of Communication

Mentor Encounters: ContentMentor Encounters: Content• Family issues• Coping and acceptance• Marriage and financial challenges• How to take care of an immuno-

compromised child• Partnering with staff and

communication• Nutrition and dietary challenges• Practical issues

Mentoring Skills UsedMentoring Skills Used

Mentor DebriefingMentor Debriefing

Pink/Red FlagsPink/Red Flags

• Excessive parental worry/ anxiety• Family/ spousal conflict• Concerns regarding siblings• Rule breaking

Outcomes/ StoriesOutcomes/ Stories

Mentor FeedbackMentor Feedback• Mentor focus group, 6/21/12:– Every encounter different– Adequately supported; self and for

mentee– Flag process helpful– Problems we uncover help staff to dig

further; none feel trust has been eroded– Training fully prepared me– I have a unique perspective; role model– I feel rewarded by this experience; give

back

Mentee FeedbackMentee Feedback

* Likert scale, 1 being “Disagree” and 5 being “Agree”

Question Asked Average Score

My mentor was/is easy to talk with. 4.8

My mentor offered/offers me advice and encouragement. 4.6

My mentor made initial contact with me in a timely manner. 4.6

My mentor did/does meet with me regularly. 4.4

My mentor acted /acts as my advocate if I need him/her to. 5

My mentor exhibited/exhibits integrity. 4.8

My mentor gave/gives me the necessary support to help me cope with my situation.

4.6

I was/am happy with the frequency of the meetings with my mentor. 4.6

My mentoring relationship met my expectations. 4.6

I feel better able to handle my child's situation after the mentoring relationship.

4.2

My mentor offered me other support options, activities or programs when I needed them.

5

Mentee FeedbackMentee Feedback• “I am so comfortable with my mentor, I

really enjoy talking with her.” - Shanda McLin

• “I don’t know what I’d do without my mentor. I enjoy talking with her.” - Tara Gibson

• “I appreciate this program so much. It is helpful having someone to talk to who has lived this journey.” - Kathy Hagan

Staff CommentsStaff Comments

“I am impressed with the compassion and level of dedication our parent mentors demonstrate. Rather than a task to complete, it appears to be a calling they feel compelled to honor.” - Brent Powell, Chaplain Services

Staff CommentsStaff Comments

“Mentors give families an opportunity to talk to someone who actually understands what it is like. I can give advice until I am blue in the face, but if they hear the same words from another parent, it seems to make perfect sense to them. I think it meets a need for socialization and partnership that we can't always provide within our clinical roles.”

- Solid Tumor clinic staff member

Future VisionFuture Vision• Institution-wide expansion to all

services– Mentors seen as part of the team, valued for

unique perspective– Mentors for all who want them; parent may

self-refer– Promotional materials widely distributed

• Increased resources; manpower, operations budget– Recruitment of additional mentors

Questions?Questions?

PAIR Mentor Implementation TeamPAIR Mentor Implementation TeamFront row, left to right: Betsy Lambert, Monica Dempsey,

Malise Culpepper, Catherine GreensladeBack row, left to right: Alexa Deghand, Kathryn Berry Carter,

Wendy Avery, Alicia Huettel, Judy Hicks, Jennifer HarmanNot pictured: Debbie Higgins, Brent Powell, Elizabeth Lee, Belinda Mandrell,

Nancy West, Teresa Hammarback, Dr. Pappo, Dr. Baker, Brin Schaechtel