Why be a mentor?

Over 19,000 teens aged out of foster care in 2021.

A growing body of research indicates that mentorship is an effective support for these youth aging out, showing that “relational approaches” are avenues for youth to navigate challenges, build resiliency, and have a sense of normalcy (Alford et al., 2019).

So, what is mentorship and how can it help?

  • creating caring, empathetic, consistent, and long-lasting relationships

  • involving role modeling, teaching, and/or advising

(Mentoring, n.d.)

  • Attachment

    Insecure attachment in childhood can impact foster youth throughout their lives, especially in teen years, causing difficulty regulating emotions. Mentors can fill in this space, providing consistent support and teaching healthy emotional coping skills.

    (Cherry, 2023; Gander & Buchheim 2015)

  • Community and Culture

    Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) demonstrates how “children’s relationship to the world is… a social relation” and how humanity is shaped by culture and the systems we live in. The mentor relationship and a supportive community can influence teens’ futures, while always being mindful of the importance of culture.

    (Laboratory for Comparative Human Cognition, 2010)

  • Role Modeling

    The Zone of Proximal Development is the difference between current and potential levels of cognitive development. Learning through interacting with others (typically adults) is key to bridging this gap. Mentors can be this positive role model to exemplify familiar but unmastered skills.

    (Kurt, 2020)

Successful mentors…

  • Don't need experiences or backgrounds similar to the youth's

  • Provide emotional support and regulation

  • Contribute to normalcy

  • Model trust and dependability

  • Create meaningful and relational shared experiences

(Alford, et al., 2019)

For references and more information:

Park, H. A. (2023). Infographic: The impact of mentorship on youth aging out of care. Child and Family Journal of Innovative Practice and Research, 4(1), 10-13. https://uh.edu/socialwork/New_research/cfcir/child-and-family-journal-cfj/cfj-4.1-final1.pdf