R1: Increasing Social Networking Opportunities following TBI
Mentor Training Program
One of the major accomplishments of the R1 Working Committee has been the development of a comprehensive training program for social peer mentors. The committee established several key pieces of information that peer mentors would need to assist others with developing social opportunities. The committee designed the training program to include a structured series of interactive training sessions, a comprehensive training and resource manual, and opportunities for continuing learning with the research therapist. Each of these training components is presented in detail below.
Social Peer Mentor Training Manual:
Entitled Making Connections after Brain Injury: A Guide for Social Peer Mentors, the manual includes information that will serve as a resource for the social peer mentor. The manual is to be used along with a series of interactive training sessions.
The Making Connections guide for peer mentors includes the following pieces of information:
- Description of the role of a mentor.
- General information about brain injury.
- Information about common problems experienced after brain injury and ideas about how to help.
- Skills that a mentor should help the peer partner to develop.
- Ideas about social activities.
- Worksheets to help your peer partner learn to plan social activities.
- Tips on providing feedback about social communication issues.
- Information on what to do in emergency or problem situations when mentoring.
- Resources that might be helpful to the mentor or to his or her peer partner.
Download a copy now
Making Connections after Brain Injury: A Guide for Social Peer Mentors is now available to download from this website (PDF version).
Interactive Training Sessions for Social Peer Mentors:
Another accomplishment of the R1 Working Committee was the development of a series of two interactive training sessions for the social peer mentors. The sessions cover the following pieces of information:
- Overview of brain injury
- Review of mentor role
- Review of ground rules for mentors
- Overview of skills to help peer partner attain
- Reviewing social resources
- Initiation/Planning of social activities
- Arranging transportation
- Planning budget
- Social Communication skills
- Handling emergency or problem situations
- Documentation
Each training session involves overview by the research therapist and peer trainer, discussion of issues, and opportunities for the mentors to practice these skills. Mentors will participate in the series of two training sessions, and will then have the opportunity to receive additional help on an individual basis with the research therapist.
Coming soon...
Guide to Interactive Training Sessions for Social Peer Mentors will be available to download from this website in the future.
