Quality Assessment
National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS)
The National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS) provides a structured, systematic process for assessing the quality of a mentoring program’s practices in alignment with the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring using a 92-question self-assessment and review meeting.
NQMS gives youth mentoring programs a meaningful indicator of quality and lends credibility to individual programs to help them attract resources and support. It also helps families and volunteers feel confident about participating in a mentoring program that meets national quality standards.
To start the NQMS process, please email Emma Rush at pr@mentorva.org or call 804-829-7236, ext. 704.
Steps to how NQMS works
- Complete the NQMS self-assessment with details about your program’s management and evaluation
- Participate in a review meeting to go over the results of your NQMS assessment
- Collaborate with MENTOR Virginia to create an Improvement and Innovation Plan based on the results of the review
- Make progress towards goals from the Improvement and Innovation Plan with the ongoing support of MENTOR Virginia
- After three years, re-engage in the continuous quality improvement process with a new NQMS assessment, review meeting, and plan
Benefits of NQMS
- Build credibility for your program to help attract resources and support
- Receive search priority in the Mentoring Connector’s volunteer referral system and attain credibility with volunteers and parents
- Receive access to ongoing support from MENTOR Virginia
- Earn badges that can be publicly displayed to showcase your program’s commitment to quality improvement
Eligibility for No-Cost Access to NQMS
To be eligible for no-cost services, your mentoring program must:
- Serve at least some youth under the age of 18
- Have been in existence for at least one year
- Not be for-profit
Badges for NQMS
Two badges may be awarded to mentoring programs during each 3-year NQMS cycle. See below:
Step 1: Initiated in NQMS
Badge for mentoring programs that have completed the NQMS self-assessment, completed the review meeting with MENTOR Virginia, and collaborated with us to complete their Improvement and Innovation Plan.
Step 2: Progressing in NQMS
Badge for mentoring programs that have already earned the Step 1 badge and have completed 3-5 quality improvement goals.