Publication date: September 2017

Overview

This review examines research on mentoring youth in foster care. The review is organized around four questions:

1. What is the effectiveness of mentoring for youth in foster care?
2. What factors influence the effectiveness of mentoring for youth in foster care?
3. What pathways are most important in linking mentoring to outcomes for youth in foster care?
4. To what extent have mentoring initiatives for youth in foster care reached and engaged these youth, been implemented with high quality, and been adopted and sustained?

Research on mentoring youth in foster care is emerging. Several studies of program-based mentoring have employed rigorous designs, and studies of both program and natural mentoring are beginning to shed light on the conditions and processes that may be required to optimize benefits to youth. Because of the interpersonal vulnerability and high potential for adverse outcomes among this population, great care and coordination is required for implementing mentoring programs and supporting natural mentoring relationships. If done well, the benefits of mentoring may outweigh the potential risks of mentoring and foster youth may experience a range of positive outcomes. The existing evidence points toward several conclusions:

• Both natural and program-based mentoring appear to be highly acceptable to youth in foster care, and mentees generally report high satisfaction with their mentoring experiences.
• Available research suggests that mentoring for children in foster care (across a range of ages and mentoring formats) can have positive impacts on many, but not all, targeted outcomes, including mental health, educational functioning and attainment, peer relationships, placement outcomes, and life satisfaction.
• Most formal mentoring programs that have been evaluated to date are multicomponent (that is, they include components other than one-to-one mentoring, such as skills groups) and utilize mentors who are agency staff members or university students.
• The impact of mentoring may differ based on demographic, and placement characteristics and key processes, such as improvements in self-determination and prosocial skills, may be the mechanisms through which mentoring outcomes are realized for this population.
• Finally, although there are many conceptual reasons why mentoring is an excellent fit for youth in foster care, there are pragmatic challenges that make widespread implementation difficult and no studies have examined program expansion or adaptation.

The review concludes with insights and recommendations for practice based on currently available knowledge. These insights highlight a number of factors to consider when developing and implementing mentoring programs for youth in foster care. Practitioners are encouraged to keep in mind that these youth may have challenges in engaging in mentoring relationships as a result of adverse experiences. Therefore, mentoring programs wishing to recruit, engage, and retain youth in foster care may need to access clinical expertise and develop collaborative relationships with agencies and professionals serving these youth. Programs should train and support their mentors to understand the critical importance of consistency, patience, and building and maintaining trust when working with these youth. Additionally, programs should consider incorporating activities that promote self-determination and goal setting and prepare youth for independent living, including the ability to build their social network and reconnect with significant adult supports.

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