The Mentoring FAN: A promising approach to enhancing attunement within the mentoring system
Abstract
Youth mentoring is a popular tool in positive youth development, with most programs utilizing a model through which youth and non-parental adults are “matched.” Using an adaptation of the Facilitating Attuned Interactions framework, this study sought to explore the effectiveness of the Mentoring FAN in enhancing interpersonal attunement among mentoring staff at two youth mentoring programs in the U.S. Upon completion of the Mentoring FAN training, quantitative (n = 28) and qualitative (n = 15) data were collected from program staff at both sites. Open-ended data from a subset of mentors (n = 27) was also gathered. Results revealed that mentoring staff experienced significant increases in empathy following the Mentoring FAN intervention. Participant interviews revealed increased attunement, increased listening ability, and increased collaboration in the supervisory relationship. Findings support the continued delivery and rigorous testing of Mentoring FAN training, with great promise for enhancing attunement across the mentoring system as a means of strengthening the relationships so critical to this intervention. The study also has important implications for the development of mentor support practices within mentoring organizations, as well as policies designed to meet the needs of youth served by mentoring programs in the U.S.
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The emotional component also encompasses other qualities, such as listening, empathy, attunement, genuine respect, and sensitivity.
“The emotional component also encompasses other qualities, such as listening, empathy, attunement [62,96,97,98], genuine respect [99], and sensitivity [39,94,100].”
From Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [62]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Pryce, J. M., Gilkerson, L., & Barry, J. E.
- Affiliations
- Loyola University Chicago (US)
- Erikson Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Pryce, Julia M.
- ORCID
- Pryce, Julia M.
- Venue
- Journal of Social Service Research
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2018-05-27
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 350-364
- ISSN
- 0148-8376 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-7314
- OpenAlex
- W2806141409
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 3.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Social Service Research (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- d
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mentoring and Academic Development
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Youth Development and Social Support
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Counseling Practices and Supervision
- Keywords
- youth mentoring, empathy, listening skills, supervisory relationship, positive youth development, mentoring programs
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