Evidence-based practice (EBP) entails making decisions by integrating the best available evidence. Dr. Renée Spencer and Dr. Jean Rhodes both mentioned EBP during their keynote addresses at last week’s Minnesota Mentoring Conference and EBP is also the topic of our Quality in Action webinar this Wednesday.
Traffic lights were invented with the intent of increasing public safety and managing traffic flow more efficiently. And with that in mind, lots of them were installed on our roads. Later on, using the best available evidence, criteria were developed regarding traffic signal placement – knowing that in some cases traffic lights did more harm than good. But even after they have been installed in locations that meet the established guidelines, traffic lights are not 100% effective. Mechanical failures create traffic backups miles long. Distracted drivers blow through red lights. And drivers like me don’t wait for the light to turn green.
Ok, not all the time. But sometimes common sense prevails (or the wails of a hungry baby in the backseat) and I just decide to go. There are no cars around. No police or red light cameras to catch me. So I just go. Is that so bad? Probably not… But it would be careless if I didn’t come to a complete stop and check for cars in all directions before deciding to proceed.
This is how I think mentoring programs should think about EBP. When making a decision about how to design or enhance your mentoring program, STOP – take a look at ALL the evidence – then make a responsible decision for your program that ensures safety for everyone involved, especially mentees. Then, evaluate that decision. Did it work? Was it worth the risk?
Most evidence-based practices related to mentoring are based upon studies of 1:1, community-based mentoring models using adults as mentors. But despite what the existing research said, programs considered the best available evidence (including community needs & resources) and then developed group and peer mentoring models anyway. They evaluated the effectiveness of those programs and now, with the release of a new meta-analysis of mentoring programs, we have evidence to show that group and cross-age mentoring models work just as well – under the right conditions.
Best practices shouldn’t block innovation, nor should they interfere with common sense. But does that mean you can completely ignore the evidence? No way.
Maybe this is why I’m a fan of the roundabout.
Continue this discussion this Wednesday, Nov. 2, during MPM’s monthly Quality in Action Webinar – Evidence-Based Practice & Mentoring.
Mai-Anh Kapanke
April Riordan
Joellen Gonder Spacek
Polly Roach
