The Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Mentoring Program is an award winning program that was established in 2002.  The development of this program was in response to a survey to field staff regarding the training needs of new vocational rehabilitation counselors.  The survey data overwhelmingly supported the development of a counselor mentoring program to provide job specific guidance in a timely and effective manner within the district setting.  The Executive Leadership Team appointed Mentor Team members and charged them with creating a formalized program to utilize the expertise of seasoned counselors as mentors to new rehabilitation counselors. To meet the charge given by ELT the team developed a program that:

• Developed a standard of excellence and best practices for mentors
• Established guidelines that enhance agency training and support district managers 
• Created a voluntary program that engage seasoned counselors in promoting the profession of rehabilitation counseling
• Identified a fair and systematic application and selection process for mentors
• Designed a Mentors' Guide for program consistency
• Developed standards for continuous quality improvement
• Addressed agency needs for retention of qualified counselors (CSPD)
• Established a continuous process for program guidance and development

This program focuses on the greatest asset of Kentucky OVR, the professionals that make the day-to-day operations of the agency work at an optimum level.  The program is respected within the agency and admired by the rehabilitation community at large because of it's dedicated professionals, rigorous expectations and high training standards. 

 A continuous process for program guidance and development is provided by the Mentor Leadership Team.  The team consists of:

• 2 field counselors (minimum) with one of counselors identified as the team leader.
• 1 branch manager to convey any concerns and/or needs to and from the managers.
• 1 central office administrator to ensure that the ELT stays informed of the progress of the team and to communicate to ELT on behalf of the mentors.
• The agency HRD Program Administrator to provide guidance regarding training needs.
• An assistant to provide support services in all program initiatives.

New Mentors - One of the roles of the Mentor Leadership Team is to develop training for the new mentors.  The team works with the HRD Program Administrator to establish a date, time and place for the training and an agenda.  The training focuses the expectations for the new mentors, process for assigning new employees to a mentor and the appropriate use of the Mentor Training Guide.  This training is held annually within several months of new mentor selections.

Seasoned Mentors - An annual training is held for all mentors to continually develop their skills and to provide a networking opportunity for sharing ideas on continuous quality improvements for the program.