Mentoring in Occupational Therapy: One State's Status

Although mentoring is considered a powerful tool for professional development and critical to strengthening the profession of occupational therapy little is known about the frequency among practitioners with which it occurs or the supports needed to sustain it. This study describes the status of Ohio Occupational Therapy State Association members with active E-mail addresses who were selected randomly and responded to a telephone survey. Of the 130 respondents, the incidence of serving as a mentor or mentee in the past was higher than the current rate. More respondents currently not serving in either role desired to serve in the role of mentor than mentee. Supports for participating in a mentoring relationship included identification of ideal mentor and/or mentee "characteristics," "linkage" to connect the two parties, and "resources" such as knowledge, time, positive environment, and incentives. The results of this study may serve useful to those involved in facilitating and supporting mentoring initiatives as mentoring strengthens not only individual practitioners but the profession as a whole.