Abstract
Resources to promote positive development in young people have been identified in many contexts such as families, schools, neighborhoods, and out-of-school time programs. The most important resources within these contexts are the relationships that young people have with committed, caring adults. In this chapter, we provide an overview of research, based on findings from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD) and other scholarly work, on the essential role of adults in promoting PYD. We provide examples of organizations that have applied this research to their programming and practices to impact the well-being of young people. Finally, we provide priorities for practice and policy based on these findings. Specifically, we recommend that programs promote positive parenting behaviors, build cultural competence among their staff, engage parents more fully in programs, train staff and the youth in relationship-building skills, and thoughtfully consider how they create mentoring matches. Policy makers should invest in creating supportive youth systems in which youth voices are heard, such as family support programs and comprehensive community initiatives, to promote youth thriving.
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Notes
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Some mentoring programs use a strategy called “cross-age peer mentoring” (Karcher, 2007, 2014), wherein older youth are paired with their younger counterparts (such as high school seniors paired with freshmen or fifth graders paired with first graders). Because the focus of this chapter is youth–adult relationships, we will not discuss cross-age peer mentoring. Interested readers are encouraged to consult other excellent resources on the topic (e.g., Karcher, 2014).
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Acknowledgments
The writing of this chapter was supported in part by grants from the National 4-H Council, the Altria Corporation, the Thrive Foundation for Youth, and the John Templeton Foundation.
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Recommended Additional Resources
Recommended Additional Resources
DuBois, D. L., & Karcher, M. J. (Eds.). (2013). Handbook of youth mentoring (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
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Research on youth mentoring has grown rapidly in the past decade. The Handbook of Youth Mentoring turns a critical eye to the research that has been done during this time. The handbook is a valuable resource for academics and professionals. The writing is very accessible and many practical applications are discussed. The handbook includes a historical look at mentoring, the current fashions of mentoring, how these have impacted and continue to impact development, different types of formal mentoring programs and their effectiveness, the different contexts in which mentoring occurs and how different youth populations can be uniquely understood, and an examination of policy issues related to youth mentoring.
Lerner, R. M. (2008). The good teen: Rescuing adolescence from the myths of the storm and stress years. New York: Random House.
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The Good Teen aimed to dispel the overwhelming public opinion that teenagers are nothing but trouble. Using evidence from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, an 8-year study of 4,000 teens from 25 states, Lerner lays out a case for the reframing of adolescence. The book explores the origins of “the troubled teen,” dealing with old myths and redefining normal adolescence. It then presents five attributes of teen behavior that foster positive development—competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring. Envisioning adolescents as resources to be developed, not problems to be fixed, Lerner provides suggestions for parents and encourages new thinking, new public policies, and new programs that focus on the strengths instead of the deficits of teens.
Manza, G., & Patrick, S. K. (2012). The mentor’s field guide: Answers you need to help kids succeed. Minneapolis: Search Institute Press.
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Mentors come to mentoring with a wide range of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and assumptions. Whether you’re new or seasoned, formal or informal, or volunteer or professional, The Mentor’s Field Guide will provide both practical advice and needed inspiration. This thoughtfully assembled and easily used guide to mentoring information and resources provides answers to and understanding of the challenges of mentors using the latest research, evidence-based practices, and case examples.
The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring (http://chronicle.umbmentoring.org/)
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Youth-mentoring program evaluations have shown that high-quality, enduring relationships can lead to a host of positive outcomes for young people. Formed in 2012 through collaboration between MENTOR and the Center for Evidence-Based Mentoring at University of Massachusetts, Boston, the Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring seeks to advance youth-mentoring research and bring findings to the field in order to enhance practitioner skill and knowledge through evidence-based practice. This online resource is designed to provide a forum for conversation, sharing, and the presentation of findings concerning the advancement of youth-mentoring practices and policies.
Equipping Quality Youth Professionals (E-QYP) (http://www.e-qyp.net/)
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E-QYP provides real-time information for youth-serving professionals and volunteers through a variety of technologies. They have an iPad and iPhone app, a website, and a book (in print and electronic forms) which present practitioner-developed and academically credible resources for those people working with the youth of all ages. E-QYP has assembled high-quality youth development information so that it can be readily accessed and practiced in broad range of settings.
Harvard Family Research Project (http://www.hfrp.org/)
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The Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) aims “to shape twenty-first-century learning opportunities so that all children and youth thrive.” This online resource addresses issues around equity and accessibility of education as well as family and community engagement practices. Across a variety of settings, HFRP explores progressive perspectives on educational, programmatic, family, and community engagement research, practices, policies, and strategies.
MENTOR (http://www.mentoring.org/)
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The National Mentoring Partnership (MENTOR) develops quality resources to advance mentoring program effectiveness and innovation by sharing knowledge among mentoring programs. On a national scale, MENTOR advocates for public funding for quality mentoring programs, establishes evidence-based national standards for quality mentoring programs, and maintains the only national online Volunteer Referral System, which helps both adult mentors and the youth who are seeking mentoring programs to find appropriate resources.
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Bowers, E.P., Johnson, S.K., Warren, D.J.A., Tirrell, J.M., Lerner, J.V. (2015). Youth–Adult Relationships and Positive Youth Development. In: Bowers, E., et al. Promoting Positive Youth Development. Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17166-1_6
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