Posted by jmeyer on December 8, 2022
According to the most recent data, more than 400,000 youth are in foster care. Many youth in foster care often share a common struggle — lack of availability or access to quality and consistent relationships with role models.
According to the most recent data, more than 400,000 youth are in foster care. Many youth in foster care often share a common struggle — lack of availability or access to quality and consistent relationships with role models.
Mentoring programs for youth in foster care need to address the unique circumstances of this vulnerable population to help them to achieve successful and healthy outcomes. The OJJDP-supported Technical Assistance and Training Program for Mentoring System-Involved Youth noted some of the challenges that mentoring programs need to address. Succinctly, they are as follows:
Aging out of the system. Older youth in foster care are especially likely to be placed in a group home or institution. As such, they are less likely to form lasting relationships with adults who are compassionate, responsible, and positively model crucial life skills. Less than 60% of students in foster care will graduate from high school. Only 3% will pursue post-secondary education.
Youth Collaboratory published a Mentoring Youth in the Foster Care System Toolkit containing four modules for services, program staff, training mentors, and creating long-term relationships. Mentoring programs for youth in foster care created more long-lasting matches when they accessed additional supports, used highly trained mentors (often with professional experience), and adhered to best practices. Simply stated, the mentor had to be more than a role model for foster care youth; the mentor had to help the youth build skills.
Skill-building can be led by social workers or people who have an experience in the foster care system. Lived experience from staff and mentors alike can play a huge role in understanding the foster youth and being able to provide mentors with ongoing support. There may be a time when a crisis arises, and knowing when to engage those additional supports can be the difference between a longer-lasting relationship or premature closure of the relationship.
In the majority of mentoring programs, long-term relationships tend to produce better outcomes, but this finding is especially true for youth in foster care. Many foster youth are leery of professionals because they have had so many involved in their family lives; while feeling more comfortable with a volunteer mentor, furthering the importance of the mentoring relationship for promoting growth and positive outcomes.
The National Mentoring Resource Center highlighted key reasons why relationships matter more for foster care youth than non-foster care youth:
The foundation for mentoring programs for youth in foster care is evidence-based practices and knowledge of standards in the field of mentoring. The Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring is a foundational resource where these standards can help you improve your mentoring program.
In addition, Mentoring Central has a staff training called Mentoring Youth in the Foster Care System. The training provides a review of challenges specific to youth in foster care and the benefits of training for all parties in the mentoring program. There are methods to increase developmental experiences and youth engagement, staff ownership in the program, and stronger applications for grant funding and documenting effective practice.
Reach out to for information on accessing the program and making a difference in the lives of youth in the foster care system and your mentoring program today.