NCIEC RID Mentoring Grant Program
Changes are under way in the RID mentoring challenge grant program. RID is partnering with the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers (NCIEC) to increase the pool of funds available for mentoring projects, and a task force is in place working on revisions to the application and reporting process for the grant program.

The RID mentoring challenge grant program has been in place since 2000. Each year, affiliate chapters in RID regions have been able to apply for grants of $2,000 to support mentoring activities. Last fall, the RID Board of Directors authorized a task force to review the grant program and make changes. Cheryl Moose and Kelly Flores were appointed to represent the RID Board of Directors. The Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) and American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) were approached to appoint a representative from their organizations to the task force as well. CIT appointed Patty Gordon and ASLTA has not yet made an official appointment.

The task force began meeting just after the first of the year. At the same time, the NCIEC Mentoring Team initiated discussion with RID on the possibility of collaboration. Given the shared goal of supporting mentoring opportunities nationwide, the partnership was formed. The NCIEC plans to provide leadership in developing evaluation and assessment plans and instruments for each of the mentorship program grant recipients. The information gathered from this collaborative effort will contribute toward their goal of identifying current, best, and ultimately, effective practices in mentoring. Diana Doucette was appointed to the task force as the NCIEC representative.

Along with Diana, came the great news that the NCIEC also had $15,000 available to support mentoring programs. The RID and NCIEC have agreed to combine the funds into one grant program, making the total funding $25,000 per year to be divided among five geographic regions. This is a great step forward in supporting sustainable, successful programming for mentoring.

Currently, the task force is developing criteria for the revised program, an application packet, rating system and evaluation tool for mentoring projects who wish to apply. A formal timeline for the application process as well as a reporting system are being put into place.

The RID/NCIEC Mentorship Grant Program’s goals are to increase the skills of:

• New interpreters
• Interpreters from minority populations
• Deaf interpreters or Deaf mentors
• Interpreters in specialized settings
  

The newly revised program will be in place in time for the 2008 funding cycle. More information will be made available as the task force continues its work. Please check back regularly or read VIEWS for updates.

The National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers is funded from 2005 – 2010 by the U.S. Department of Education RSA CFDA #84.160A and B, Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf and Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind.

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