About the IAC Mentoring Program

WHAT IS THE PROGRAM’S PURPOSE?

The IAC Mentoring Program offers the opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship between experienced county elected officials (mentors) and newly elected officials (mentees). County government is complex and newly elected officials have often referred to their first year as “drinking from a fire hose.” As part of IAC’s mission to provide education and training to assist county officials in the performance of public service, we thought it was only natural to facilitate a mentoring program to connect incoming elected officials with seasoned officials. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
The IAC Mentoring Program is available to active IAC members. Mentees do not have to be in their first year of office and mentors do not need to have a minimum amount of experience. 

WHAT ARE THE BASIC GUIDELINES?
IAC will match each mentee with a mentor in early January. During the first year, mentors and mentees agree to:

- Schedule an initial meeting to establish the mentor/mentee relationship;
- Visit each other’s county at least one time;
- Attend the IAC Mentoring Program Lunch during the IAC Midwinter Legislative Conference; and
- Meet in person or communicate by phone or email as often as needed, preferably once per month.

Mentors and mentees will work together to coordinate meetings. Because of Idaho’s geographical landscape, mentor-mentee pairs might find it difficult to meet in person and may opt for meeting via telephone or virtual meetings.

MORE INFORMATION
For more information, please visit the IAC website: https://idcounties.org/events-training/iac-mentoring-program/.