Mentoring At-Risk Youth: An Investment in Positive Youth Outcomes

A new issue brief from MENTOR in collaboration with Root Cause called Mentoring: Investments in Positive Youth Outcomes draws on research to demonstrate how mentoring is a critical support strategy that positively impacts academic achievement, workforce development, and behavioral outcomes.

Research validates that quality mentoring relationships significantly benefit young people, especially those perceived to be at risk. Mentors provide them with the confidence, resources, continuity, and support they need to achieve their potential.

Economically, quality youth mentoring is a proven investment. There is a $3 return to society for every $1 invested. Studies regularly cite a child’s consistent relationship with non-familial adults as a key driver for breaking cycles of poverty.

Mentoring has significant positive effects on two early warning indicators that a student may be falling off-track:

High levels of absenteeism (Kennelly & Monrad, 2007)

• Students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class. (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters)

Recurring behavior problems (Thurlow, Sinclair & Johnson, 2002)

• Young adults who face an opportunity gap but have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor. (The Mentoring Effect, 2014)
• In addition to better school attendance and a better chance of going on to higher education, mentored youth maintain better attitudes toward school. (The Role of Risk, 2013)