What industry experts say about youth mentoring
Positive relationships with adults, where young people feel valued, are key for their social and psychological development (1). During a period where young people may be experiencing tumultuous relationships with adults in their lives, a volunteer mentor can provide an example of a positive, caring and warm adult relationship (2). Some key features of successful mentoring programs include: • Quality relationship: a non-judgemental mentor- mentee relationship, characterised by mutual respect, fun, empathy and warmth (3,4). • Consistency: regular contact between the mentor and young person (5). • Structured and targeted (6,7): targeting the building of specific skills or capabilities in the mentees through a curriculum or program structure.
• The role-modelling and instrumental and emotional support that mentors provide can lead to a range of positive outcomes for young people including (8): • Improved educational and employment outcomes • Improved mental health outcomes
• Increased prosocial behaviour • Reduced problem behaviour
The power of showing up | raise.org.au
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