The Harvard- Manville Mentoring Program

“The relationship between Manville and Harvard is a win-win situation for both the kids and the mentors.” – Susan Monihan, Grant Coordinator

Beginning in 1995, JBCC developed and implemented a mentoring program, similar to the big brother/big sister volunteer program, pairing Harvard Medical/Dental students with students at JBCC’s Manville School.  Many Manville students have limited exposure to healthy role-models and many come from single-parent households.  This program increases their connections and relationships with a unique and exceptional population, future physicians and dentists from Harvard Medical School.

The medical/dental students commit to meeting with their assigned students one afternoon a week for one school year and participate in a year-long elective course.  Mentors are supervised by Manville’s Family Programming Coordinator.  The course is a bimonthly seminar which focuses on month-long modules on topics of particular relevance to the lives of Manville children. 

Parents Reported:

 -“Children asked to see their mentors at other times.”

-“They (children) talked about their times with their mentors.”

-“They always wanted to go to school the day they saw their mentor.”

-“My son only has females in his life, now he has a male role model.”

-“I saw increased confidence in my son, definitely less depressed, thanks to his mentor.”

Medical Students Have Reported What They Have Learned

- ”Power of healthy relationships.”
- ”Understanding someone of a completely different background.”
-  “Patience required to deal with this ten year old and how I can apply this to future patients.”
-  “About a child who has experienced trauma and how they react and cope.”
-  “This experience is as valuable as my training in my patient/doctor courses.”

All mentors evaluate the program at the end of the school year.  98% of the first year mentors will continue to mentor during their second year at HMS.

 

For more information on the Harvard-Manville Mentoring Program, please contact Brina Einstein.