Guidance for Mentoring as an Athletic Coach Participation in sports is common in American youth. In fact, approximately 54% of 6- to 17-year-olds in the United States participate in an organized sport, such as school-based sports teams, local leagues, or traveling athletic teams.1 Athletic involvement can have numerous benefits for youth, including improved academic performance, […]

Tips to Help Matches Thrive at the Mid-Point of Their Mentoring Relationships The lifecycle of many mentoring relationships follows the schedule of the academic year, with mentoring relationships beginning when the school year begins and closing as the school year ends. This means that many matches have now reached the halfway point or “mid-point” of […]

Tips for Navigating Difficult Conversations with Your Mentee Having difficult or uncomfortable conversations with a mentee is one aspect of mentoring that many mentors find intimidating. For example, you may find it challenging to navigate conversations about substance misuse, concepts of gender, racism, and violence with your mentee in ways that are empowering, respectful, and […]

How the Science of Hope Can Help Your Mentees Flourish Many community organizations, behavioral health providers, educational institutions, and mentoring programs are integrating the science of hope into their practices to improve the health and wellbeing of groups they serve. The word “hope” tends to bring positive thoughts, and we often use the word to […]

Back-to-School Mentoring Activity Guide for Stronger Relationships Though mentors are often not directly involved in their mentees’ schooling, they can play an impactful role behind the scenes to help their mentee feel connected at school, attend class regularly, and boost their grades.

How To Determine If Online, Self-Paced or Face-to-Face, Instructor-Led Training is Better for Your Mentors Pre-match mentor training can help mentors feel more prepared to mentor and supported by your program, which may ultimately lead to longer, stronger matches. Most mentoring program staff are aware that evidence-based training programs and practices are more likely to […]

A Guide for Preventing Premature Match Closure in Mentoring Relationships Alarmingly, nearly 40% of youth mentoring relationships end early.1 Premature match closure is associated with various negative outcomes in young people, and mentees who are in matches that end early experience significantly fewer benefits from mentoring than mentees who are in long-lasting relationships. For example, […]

Fun, Goal-Oriented, Summer Activity Suggestions for Matches The types of activities that mentors and mentees do together during match meetings can have a significant impact on the mentoring relationship. In fact, research has shown that match activities that are goal-directed, collaborative, and relevant to the match’s needs can help mentees feel closer to their mentor, […]