Research findings from several formal evaluations suggest that mentoring is successful in producing positive effects toward reducing juvenile delinquency; however, not all mentoring programs are successful. Researchers evaluating the Big Brothers Big Sisters program found that certain aspects are essential in implementing successful mentoring programs. These include:
- A high level of contact between mentor and mentee.
- A relationship that defines the mentor as a friend rather than an authoritative figure.
The researchers also found several other factors that serve as prerequisites for successful mentoring programs: 1) volunteer screening to eliminate unfavorable mentors, 2) communication and limit-setting training for mentors, 3) procedures that take into account youth and volunteer preferences, and 4) intensive supervision and support of each match.
From the OJJDP Model Programs Guide's page on Mentoring, discussing Making a Difference: An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters, by Joseph P. Tierney and Jean Baldwin Grossman, with Nancy L. Resch, Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures.
