This document presents an innovative curriculum framework for helping individuals aged 16-25 years reconnect with learning and develop the "soft skills" needed to manage their lives and relationships. The guide contains ideas and approaches to help mentors and program managers implement the Getting Connected program, which is designed to support the public policy goal of re-engaging disengaged and disillusioned adolescents and young adults with mainstream opportunities for lifelong learning and work. Part 1 introduces the guide. Part 2 discusses the curriculum's policy context and partnership approach and presents two case studies. Part 3 details the curriculum's nine units, which are titled as follows: knowing myself; coping with feelings: holding beliefs: handling relationships; getting and giving support; exploring risks; managing myself; using information; and rights and responsibilities. Each unit includes materials for mentors and materials for learners. Part 4 examines the following topics: mentoring (skills, attitudes, and qualities needed by mentors; managing the mentoring process); emotional intelligence (self-awareness; OK-ness; self-management; motivation; empathy; handling relationships); learning (how people learn, choosing and using learning methods); and assessment (when, why, and how assessment should take place; giving constructive feedback; recording achievements). Part 5 lists the following resources for mentors: 86 references; 15 organizations; and 29 World Wide Web sites. (MN)