Tips for Online Mentors

Sanchez Elementary School Online Mentoring Program

Tips for Online Mentors:
Inappropriate or Crisis Communications

The odds of a mentor encountering an inappropriate or crisis situation with a student online in this project are quite slim. You will probably not encounter any situation with your protegé that will require an emergency response.

HOWEVER, we want to make sure that you are aware of what constitutes an emergency situation, and what to do in case of one. NEVER try to handle any of these situations on your own!

Remember that all e-mails sent by mentors are automatically archived and reviewed at some point by the teachers and program advisor for this project.

If your protegé brings up an inappropriate or "crisis" subject matter, you should notify the program team IMMEDIATELY and ask for assistance. If the situation warrents it, you should also call teachers Genny Gamboa and Jim Wahrer at Sanchez Elementary School: 512-414-4423.

Crisis communications from your protegé that you should ask for assistance via e-mail from your Program Advisor can include a protegé:

expressing interest or participation in a crime
expressing interest in running away from home
expressing interest or participation in drug (including alcohol) use
talking about pornography or hate-related web sites he or she visits regularly or enjoys
revealing a self-abuse condition, such an eating disorder or self-tattooing

Emergency communications from your protegé, where the life or health of someone is in danger, that you should ask for assistance via our special crisis phone number can include a protegé:

expressing interest or participation in suicide
expressing interest or participation in physically harming someone
expressing interest or participation in physically harming someone
talking about physical or sexual abuse they are experiencing

If you encounter any of the above, please call teachers Genny Gamboa and Jim Wahrer at Sanchez Elementary School: 512-414-4423; they will advise you immediately on how to proceed in any of the above circumstances, either by phone or by e-mail. In such situations, we will work very hard to balance the trusting relationship you are building with this young person with the legal and proper procedures to ensure this youth's safety. Mentors will either help participate in any necessary intervention, or be kept informed of any actions taken.

V E R S I O N: December 15, 2000

Return to the main page of Online Mentoring Guidelines and Activities

Return to the main page of the Sanchez Elementary School Online Mentoring Program

VERSION: December 15, 2000

Return to the main page of the Sanchez Elementary School Online Mentoring Program

Permission is granted to quote from this web site so long as the author and web site are noted.
Please notify me if you intend to use these materials or to quote me. You don't have to, but it would be appreciated.

This resource was developed by Jayne Cravens for Sanchez Elementary School in Austin, Texas;
the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin; and the Virtual Volunteering Project.
This online mentoring program is no longer operational; these web materials have been preserved to help other schools develop their own online mentoring programs. You can find more online mentoring resources here