Incentive Mentoring Program

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Incentive Mentoring Program
Mentors and students develop teamwork and problem-solving skills on a Challenging Outdoor Physical Experience (COPE) course
Address
PO Box 1584
Baltimore, MD, 21203
Information
Homepage http://www.dunbar-imp.org

The Incentive Mentoring Program or IMP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was originally founded as a partnership between students at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Baltimore, Maryland). The goal of IMP is to transform teenagers who are failing high school into Baltimore City's most valuable role models. IMP extends a school-based tutoring program to the home, providing both academic and social support to youth struggling with poverty, drugs, and violence. Mentoring teams, called "IMP Families" not only support teenagers in overcoming their own adversity, but also encourage them to help others do the same. Although only 38.5% of Baltimore City children will receive a high school diploma[1], IMP students have achieved a 100% graduation[2] and 100% college enrollment rate.[3]

Contents

[edit] Target Participants

IMP's philosophy is that its mentors should learn just as much from the high-schoolers as these teenagers learn from them.

[edit] Teenagers

High School freshman who have failed at least 50% of their courses and face one of the following psychosocial challenges are selected to join IMP and receive support through college graduation.

  • School Suspension
  • Substance Abuse
  • Gang Violence
  • Sexual Assault
  • Poverty
  • Temporary Homelessness
  • Burdensome Financial Obligation to Household
  • Learning Disability
  • Depression
  • Incarcerated Parent

[edit] Health Professionals in Training

IMP's mentors are medical, public health, and nursing students who personally witness the challenges teenagers face. These future health professionals develop experience with urban health issues and promoting behavior change.

[edit] Mentoring Model

IMP has a "family style" mentoring, in which a team of 5-6 mentors is matched with each child and is responsible for adapting to his/her unique needs. IMP Families coach life skills through activities based on 3 elements: academic assistance, community service, and team-building. As needed, these teams connect students and their families with rehabilitation and other social services. This model was designed to meet the comprehensive needs of the students without overburdening volunteers.[4]

[edit] Academic Assistance

Mentors serve as tutors, advocates, and counselors for students. Johns Hopkins graduate students hold 1-on-1 after-school tutoring sessions twice weekly. Volunteers also coach organizational skills, seek regular feedback from teachers, and navigate the college application and financial aid processes.

[edit] Community Service

At first, the primary concern of many IMP students is self-preservation. Their perspectives shift when they are put in the position of giving to others. IMP Alumni say that participating in service projects gave them a sense of purpose and hope for the future.[5]

[edit] Team-building

IMP encourages students to rely on each other as well as their network of mentors. Field trips such as camping and high-ropes courses are designed to develop trust, communication skills, and problem solving ability.

[edit] Community Service Awards

IMP has received service awards from both local and national organizations.

  • Echoing Green Fellowship Semifinalist 2008[6]
  • Baltimore Albert Schweitzer Fellowship 2004,2005,2006,2008[7]
  • SOURCE School of Medicine Individual Community Service Award presented to mentors in 2005, 2007[8]
  • Martin Luther King Junior Community Service Award 2006[9]
  • Boy Scouts of America Scoutreach Whitney M Young Jr. National Service Award[10]
  • Spirit of Scouting Leadership Award 2007 [11]

[edit] Community Service Partnerships

IMP mentors and students participate side-by-side in monthly community service projects benefiting organizations throughout Maryland.[12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Toppo, Greg (20 June), “Big-City Schools Struggle with Graduation Rates”, USA Today, <http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-06-20-dropout-rates_x.htm> 
  2. ^ Grienzi, Greg (11 June), “A Remarkable Partnership Sets High-Schoolers on New Path”, The JHU Gazette, <http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2007/11jun07/11mentor.html> 
  3. ^ IMP Alumni & Quotes. Incentive Mentoring Program, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  4. ^ Meet the IMP Family. Incentive Mentoring Program, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  5. ^ IMP Alumni & Quotes. Incentive Mentoring Program, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  6. ^ Recognition and Awards. Incentive Mentoring Program, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  7. ^ Fellows & Projects. Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  8. ^ Straight from the SOURCE. Student OUtreach Resource CEnter. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  9. ^ Grienzi, Greg (9 January), “James Early Jones to Lead MLK Tribute”, The JHU Gazette, <http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2006/09jan06/09mlk.html> 
  10. ^ “Partnership Spotlight: Dunbar Mentoring Project”, Schools Monthly: 21, 1 January 2008, <http://dunbar-imp.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/schools_monthly_0108.pdf> 
  11. ^ “Partnership Spotlight: Dunbar Mentoring Project”, Schools Monthly: 21, 1 January 2008, <http://dunbar-imp.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/schools_monthly_0108.pdf> 
  12. ^ Partners. Incentive Mentoring Program, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.

[edit] External links