Improving youth mentoring interventions through research-based practice
Abstract
Youth mentoring programs are in the limelight. Over three million young people have a Big Brother, a Big Sister, or a similar adult volunteer involved in their lives-a sixfold increase from just a decade ago-and generous federal funding continues to fuel new initiatives. This expansion speaks volumes about the faith our society places in one-on-one relationships between vulnerable young people and caring adults. But what do we know about the effectiveness of this intervention strategy? A better understanding of the research evidence for youth mentoring, including findings from reviews, evaluations, and meta-analyses, provides a basis for a more informed, practically applicable approach to strengthening youth mentoring interventions.
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The primary objectives and focus of an SBM program, student demographics, perspectives of teachers and mentors, and the specific context of the school-including its resources and existing programs-all play a role in determining the selection of the outcome domain.
“The primary objectives and focus of an SBM program, student demographics, perspectives of teachers and mentors, and the specific context of the school-including its resources and existing programs-all play a role in determining the selection of the outcome domain (DuBois et al., 2011; Rhodes, 2008; Snyder et al., 1997).”
From Outcome domains and assessment measures in school-based youth mentoring programs: a systematic review (2026) · cites this paper as Rhodes, 2008
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- Authors
- Rhodes, J. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Massachusetts Boston (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rhodes, Jean E.
- ORCID
- Rhodes, Jean E.
- Venue
- American Journal of Community Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-02-20
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 35-42
- ISSN
- 0091-0562 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2770
- OpenAlex
- W2058255415
- Cited by
- 272
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 94 · 2016: 80 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 1.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Community Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mentoring and Academic Development
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Youth Development and Social Support
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Keywords
- youth mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters, one-on-one mentoring, intervention effectiveness, evidence-informed practice, program evaluation, meta-analysis, vulnerable youth, adult volunteers
- MeSH terms
- Child, Child Development, Humans, Mentors, Social Support, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Evidence-Based Medicine, Vulnerable Populations
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