Tips to Help Mentors Become Advocates for their Mentees

When volunteering for a mentoring program, mentors take on a responsibility to support their mentee as they work towards their goals or face challenges. This often includes providing their mentee with emotional support, doing fun activities with their mentee that support their goals, or giving them advice when asked. However, mentors also have the opportunity to expand upon these roles and potentially open new doors for their mentee by becoming an advocate for their mentee.

Read more »

Motivating Mentees to Participate and Engage in School

At the beginning of the new year, most youth are returning to school from a holiday break and entering a new semester. At this point in the academic year, it can be easy for students to feel burnt out or struggle to adjust back to a school schedule after a break. Mentors can help their mentees who are students combat burnout or negative academic outcomes by boosting their motivation to participate in school activities.

Read more »

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, physical health, mental health, and social skills. Athletic coaches play an important role in the lives of youth by helping them achieve these positive outcomes through athletics.

Read more »

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 their mentoring relationship.

Read more »

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 foster relationship closeness.

Read more »

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 bring encouragement to others in times of hardship or need. But, what does hope really mean, and how can it benefit your mentoring program?

Read more »