National Quality Mentoring System

Centering Quality in Your Mentoring Program

The National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS) offers mentoring programs an opportunity to reflect on their program practices and work towards adopting evidence-based mentoring practices and procedures in alignment with the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring^TM.

MENTOR developed the NQMS with and for mentoring programs to assess their program practices with the goal of continuously improving and enhancing the quality and impact of their programs. This dedication to continuous quality improvement propels the mentoring field forward, paving the way for meaningful connections that empower both youth and mentors.

NQMS Benefits

The NQMS helps mentoring programs better understand their own strengths and areas for improvement while equipping program staff to talk about what quality mentoring practices are when speaking with their stakeholders, whether that’s potential mentors, funders, or even elected officials.

Mentoring programs that have participated in the NQMS have reported a positive effect on:

Program improvement (staffing, services offered)
Competitive improvement (increased visibility)
Financial capacity
Formal evaluation activities

They also reported higher ratings of:

Mentoring relationship satisfaction
Commitment and security in the mentoring relationship
Lower mentor-youth relationship negativity

Testimonials

The NQMS requires both time and effort for mentoring program staff. Below are some testimonials from mentoring program staff that have completed the process (including one that has completed the process multiple times!).

“We’re a relatively new, small organization, and we’re dedicated to providing a highly effective mentoring program. We viewed the NQMS assessment as an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of what we do well and what we could improve.

The assessment process was remarkably smooth and seamless. The resulting I&I plan serves as a guiding framework as we continue to grow, ensuring that we consistently meet the high standards we set for our program. Ultimately, offering a great mentoring program is the best way to support kids we serve.”

Kathy Mai, Program Manager, Mad River Mentoring

“We’ve had the opportunity to complete three rounds of NQMS, and each round has been instrumental in driving lasting improvements across our mentoring program.

Importantly, our engagement with NQMS has played a role in increasing our credibility with funders. Being able to demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement and national standards has helped us secure additional funding, which further supports our ability to reach more youth.

NQMS has been invaluable to SOS. It has sharpened our focus, reinforced our commitment to quality, and contributed to stronger outcomes for the communities we serve.”

Elizabeth Williams, Chief Operating Officer, SOS Outreach

Learn More

THE NQMS PROCESS

In partnership with your local MENTOR Affiliate, mentoring programs that participate in the NQMS:

Complete an online self-assessment
Participate in a review meeting with a trained NQMS reviewer
Adopt and work on an Improvement and Innovation (I&I) Plan
Reengage in the assessment process every three years

NQMS & THE EEPM

The NQMS provides an opportunity for mentoring programs to reflect on their current program practices and how it aligns with the evidence-based practices outlined in the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™ (EEPM). Just like the EEPM, the NQMS has evolved over time, integrating both rigorous research and the insights of experienced practitioners.

Click here to download a recent white paper that discusses some of the key research that informed the evolution of the NQMS and the newest edition of the EEPM.

Click here to visit the EEPM website – a dedicated, interactive site designed to provide easy access to the elements, tools, and resources for mentoring programs.

NQMS TUTORIALS

The NQMS assessment is embedded in the Mentoring Connector. To access the assessment, your program will need to have an account in the system. Click here for resources related to signing up for the Mentoring Connector, including how to reset passwords, responding to inquiries, and adding accounts.

For tutorials related to the NQMS, including how to start an assessment, upload documents, or create NQMS user-accounts, click here.

ADDITIONAL QUALITY RESEARCH & RESOURCES

There are many research studies demonstrating that the quality of practices and work implemented by mentoring professionals is critical to achieving the positive outcomes we associate with mentoring. Here are some recommendations for further reading:

Drew A.L., Keller T.E., Spencer R, Herrera C. (2020). Investigating mentor commitment in youth mentoring relationships: The role of perceived program practices. J Community Psychol. 2020;1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22409

Keller, T. E., Drew, A. L., Clark-Shim, H., Spencer, R., & Herrera, C. (2020). It’s about time: Staff support contacts and mentor volunteer experiences. Journal of Youth Development, 15(4), 145-161. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2020.879

Spencer, R., Drew, A. L., Herrera, C., McBeath, B., & Keller, T. E. (2021). Ready? Set? Go?: Examining Organizational Readiness for Change in a Quality Improvement Intervention for Youth Mentoring Programs. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research. https://doi.org/10.1086/718516

Keller, T. E., Drew, A. L., Herrera, C., Clark-Shim, H., & Spencer, R. (2023). Do program practices matter for mentors?: How implementation of empirically supported program practices is associated with youth mentoring relationship quality. Journal of Community Psychology, 51(8), 3194–3215. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23019

Interested in finding out more about the NQMS?

Contact your local MENTOR Affiliate or contact us!