What is the Latino/a Social Workers Network Mentoring Program?
The main purpose of the mentoring program is to provide Latino/a social work students with the unique and empowering opportunity to be mentored by senior professional social workers. This culturally attuned program focuses on developing and strengthening relationships between experienced social workers (mentors) and Latino/a social work students (mentees). The Latino/a cultural values of familismo, personalismo, confianza, and colectivismo play a vital role in building relationships between mentors and mentees. The ultimate goal of the program is to help Latino/a social work students more competently and effectively navigate the challenges of practicing in a variety of professional settings.
What is the format or structure of the Mentoring Program?
The 2018 Mentoring Program is a hybrid of our successful one-on-one mentoring program and innovative community mentoring model. The community mentoring portion of the program will consist of five in-person interactive and discussion-based meetings. These five community meetings will focus on (1) program orientation; (2) social work professionalism; (3) negotiation skills; (4) cultural development; and (5) program evaluation and celebration. Food will be provided at each meeting. There will also be an opportunity to meet as a community at the Mentoring Program’s fun annual summer picnic in Summer 2018.
One-on-one relationships between mentors and mentees will be identified and established at the first meeting through a “Speed Mentoring” activity. Mentors and mentees will then communicate outside of community meetings and interact with each other via phone, online, and/or in-person to develop one-on-one mentoring relationships. The Mentoring Program liaisons will periodically check in with mentors and mentees on their relationship and help resolve any issues or problems that may arise.
Who can participate in the Mentoring Program?
This program is open to all Latino/a MSW students who are NASW members (may also join upon starting the program) and in their last two years of graduate education. Potential mentors should identify as Latino/a, possess MSW degrees, be an NASW member (or join upon starting the program), and have at least five years of post-MSW professional experience. With the exception of the first meeting, all past mentors and mentees are welcome to join participants for community meetings. For information on NASW membership, please go to www.socialworkers.org/Join.
What is the time commitment needed to participate in the Mentoring Program?
All 2018 Mentoring Program community meetings are held on the following Fridays, 6-8pm, at the University of Saint Joseph, Bruyette Athenaeum, Carol Autorino Center Reception Room (2nd Floor): February 23, April 13, June 1, September 28, and December 7. The University of Saint Joseph is located on 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117. Mentors and mentees are expected to attend all five of these meetings. Please consider your availability on these dates/times before applying for the program.
If you’re interested in applying as a mentor or mentee or would like more information, please contact Network Co-chair, Alberto Cifuentes, Jr., LMSW, at LSWCTMentoring@gmail.com.
Important Forms
- 2018 LSW Mentoring MENTOR Application_FINAL
- 2018 LSW Mentoring MENTEES Application_FINAL
- 2018 Mentor and Mentee Commitment Form_FINAL
- Latino Social Work Network – Ad 1
- Latino Social Work Network – Ad 2
