Youth Initiated Mentoring: Investigating a New Approach to Working with Vulnerable Adolescents

Abstract

This study examines youth initiated mentoring (YIM), a new approach to mentoring in which youth nominate mentors from among the non-parental adults within their existing social networks (e.g., teachers, family friends, extended family members). YIM is currently being implemented through the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program (NGYCP), an intensive residential intervention program for youth ages 16-18 who have dropped out or been expelled from high school. This study employed a mixed methods explanatory design, drawing on quantitative data from a national longitudinal evaluation of NGYCP (N = 1,173) and qualitative data from a subsample of participants (N = 30) in the evaluation. Results indicated that more enduring mentoring relationships were associated with increased retention of educational, vocational, and behavioral outcomes 3 years following entry into the study. Qualitative data suggested that, when relationships endured, mentors contributed to improvements in participants' educational and occupational success, quality of relationships with parents, peers, and others, and selfconcept by providing social-emotional support, instrumental support, and guidance. Results also revealed that relationships were more likely to endure when youth chose their mentors on their own (rather than receiving help from parents or program staff) and when mentors were of the same race as youth. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

The Functions and Longitudinal Outcomes of Adolescents’ Naturally Occurring Mentorships

“…We expected that youth reports of how mentors helped them would include descriptions of mentoring functions similar to those outlined by Kram (1985), Chen et al (2003), Greeson et al (2010), Nora and Crisp (2007), Schwartz, Rhodes, Spencer and Grossman (2013b), Spencer (2010), and Tolan et al (2014). These frameworks cross boundaries of prot eg e age, relationship type, and relationship goals capturing the array of mentoring functions described in the current literature.…”

“…These practical means of support have been identified by few past models of adolescent mentoring (cf. Chen et al, 2003;Greeson et al, 2010;Schwartz et al, 2013b) and made up a very small portion of overall responses. However, their value should be considered by future research.…”

“Thinking about the future, what’s gonna happen?”—How young people in Sweden who neither work nor study perceive life experiences in relation to health and well-being

“…First of all, the results reveal that this group of young people is a heterogeneous group and we suggest that if referring to them with the term NEET (Nordenmark et al, 2015) it is important to keep in mind the wide variety of hardships they need to concur. The results clearly show the importance of social support, and thus mentorship in school could be one way to strengthen the social networks of vulnerable young people in school (Schwartz, Rhodes, Spencer, & Grossman, 2013). …”

Mentoring Relationship Closures in Big Brothers Big Sisters Community Mentoring Programs: Patterns and Associated Risk Factors

“…However, most MRs involving youth and nonparental adults occur naturally outside of a program setting (Bruce & Bridgeland, 2014). These natural MRs may be more enduring than those supported by formal programs possibly because they are more authentic, developmentally focused, and embedded in stable social networks (Black, Grenard, Sussman & Rohrbach, 2010;Schwartz, Rhodes, Spencer & Grossman, 2013). Not surprisingly, an emerging body of evidence has shown wide ranging positive effects associated with youth involvement in natural MRs including improvements in mental health (Hurd & Zimmerman, 2010;Zimmerman, 2010), stronger interpersonal relationships with significant others (e.g., parents; Hurd & Zimmerman, 2014), reduced risky behaviors (Zimmerman, 2010) and higher paying and more intrinsically rewarding careers in early adulthood (McDonald & Lambert, 2014;Timpe & Lunkenheimer, 2015).…”

“…Not surprisingly, an emerging body of evidence has shown wide ranging positive effects associated with youth involvement in natural MRs including improvements in mental health (Hurd & Zimmerman, 2010;Zimmerman, 2010), stronger interpersonal relationships with significant others (e.g., parents; Hurd & Zimmerman, 2014), reduced risky behaviors (Zimmerman, 2010) and higher paying and more intrinsically rewarding careers in early adulthood (McDonald & Lambert, 2014;Timpe & Lunkenheimer, 2015). These promising results, combined with the time-limited nature of many formal mentoring programs, has led to the development of youth-initiated mentoring programs where youth identify adult mentors who are already part of their natural social networks to serve as mentors (Schwartz et al, 2013). Future investigations are needed to better understand the factors that contribute to the longevity of natural MRs, the capacity of natural relationships to sustain positive impacts on youth development, and the extent to which such relationships may augment or enhance the effectiveness of formal mentoring initiatives.…”