Group Mentoring: The Experience of Adolescent Mentees on Probation

Abstract

Group mentoring is an innovative approach to working with vulnerable youth. This qualitative study examined a group mentoring program and the experience of youth participants involved with the juvenile justice system. Eleven mentees and two mentoring coordinators participated in a combination of focus groups and individual interviews, while participant observation was also employed. All participants indicated that the group mentoring program had a positive influence in their lives, helped them to make better choices, and provided a healthy weekly activity. Mentees identified the mentoring coordinator and the group activities as the most important aspects to the experience.

Conversation Club: A Group Mentoring Model for Immigrant Youth

“…For these tenets to be achieved, safe spaces need to be formed in which culturally appropriate practices—including life skills, pro-social behaviors, critical thinking, and emotional coping—are promoted in alignment with specific cultural norms and expectations regarding adolescent development (Oberoi, 2016; Washington, Barnes, & Watts, 2014). Especially among minority adolescents, group mentoring can create a sense of belonging (Cawood & Wood, 2014) that they otherwise may not experience in individualized mentorships. This solidarity with others also provides them the opportunity to support one another and give advice to peers in times of distress (Jagendorf & Malekoff, 2006).…”

Conversation Club: A Promising Practice in Youth Mentoring of Migrants and Refugees

“…Due to their specific struggles, immigrants and refugees can experience significant benefits from mentoring (DuBois, Holloway, Valentine, & Cooper, 2002;Rhodes, 1994). Specifically, group mentoring can provide a foundation for newcomer youth to relate to peers their age (Birman & Morland, 2014;BRYCS, 2010;Cawood & Wood, 2014;Crul & Schneider, 2014;Deutsch, Reitz-Krueger, Henneberger, Ehrlich, & Lawrence, 2016;Hilario et al, 2014;Schmidt, Morland, & Rose, 2009) and receive peer and adult support through their adjustment process (Birman & Morland, 2014). Mentees have a space to promote their bicultural identities (Morland, 2007) and find and foster positive relationships in their new environment (Birman & Morland, 2014;Cawood & Wood, 2014;Hilario et al, 2014;Oberoi, 2016;Schmidt et al, 2009).…”

“…For these tenets to be achieved, safe spaces need to be formed in which culturally appropriate practices-including life skills, pro-social behaviors, critical thinking, and emotional coping-are promoted in alignment with specific cultural norms and expectations regarding adolescent development (Oberoi, 2016;Washington, Barnes, & Watts, 2014). Especially among minority adolescents, group mentoring can create a sense of belonging (Cawood & Wood, 2014) that might not be experienced in individualized mentorships. This solidarity with other students not only allows adolescents to relate with others going through similar experiences (i.e., adjusting to a new country), but provides them the opportunity to support one another and give advice to peers in times of distress (Jagendorf & Malekoff, 2006).…”