Why Mentoring?

Studies have shown that mentoring is a highly effective strategy for preventing several key problems that young people face, including school violence, drug abuse, and school drop out. Mentoring provides information, opportunities, nurturance, and support. By successfully navigating a relationship with a mentor, a young person develops a shared sense of caring, respect, trust, and, consequently, the belief that "I can." This positive attitude, or self-efficacy, makes a fundamental difference when it is applied to specific goals (such as school or career) or to the young person's emotional development.

In 1998, Mentor Duluth began a longitudinal study of community based mentoring; to date there are more than 1000 children in the study. The study is unique in collecting data on an annual basis for as long as the child is in the program, and obtaining feedback from children, parents, mentors, and schools. After collecting over ten years of results, our analysis is showing us the difference that mentoring makes.

When we compared matched to unmatched children we found positive growth in the matched childrens' self-esteem, decision-making abilities, and values. children with mentors view parental supervision more positively, enjoy a better attachment to school, show less rebellious behavior and cultivate more positive peer relationships. Grades of mentees improved compared to children not matched. Over 40% of youth increased in the area of healthy lifestyles.

In our academic mentoring program, 67% of students increased in at least one core subject area by at least 1/2 grade. This improvment comes at a time when the grades of most students tend to decrease. In addition, 50.5% of youth involved in academic mentoring had improved attendance.

In a landmark study conducted by Public/Private Ventures (P/PV), 1000 young people on the waiting list of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America were randomly assigned to two groups. Members of one group were assigned a mentor; members of the other group remained on the waiting list. Comparing the two groups 18 months later, the children with mentors were:

-46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs

-27% less likely to begin using alcohol

-53% less likely to skip school

-33% less likely to engage in violence

P/PV also found that young people with mentors felt more competent about their ability to do well in school; reported more positive relationships with friends and parents; had better attitudes toward school and the future; and had better attitudes toward their family and communities.