• In Columbus, 90% of the students in a tutoring and mentoring program, Book Buddies, were at or above grade level in literacy skills at the end of the school year, after starting the year with reading skills below grade level.

• In Indianapolis, 80% of the first class of graduates from the Starfish Initiative mentoring program enrolled incollege.

• In South Bend, 90% of participating students who were mentored through the Urban Youth Services program graduated from high school.

The social benefits are impressive. Mentored youth attend school more regularly, have better attitudes and behaviors at school, and are more likely to pursue post-secondary education.

In addition, youth-serving organizations that support mentoring initiatives estimate a return on investment of more than $2 for every $1 spent on program resources.

While studies and testimonials show that mentoring works and the number of American adults engaged in formal one-to-one mentoring relationships is increasing, programs need more volunteers. Of the almost 17.6 million young Americans who need or want mentoring, only 2.5 million participate in formal one-to-one mentoring programs. In an informal survey of Indiana mentoring agencies, 96.4% said that their programs could accommodate more volunteers; nearly 90% also expressed a great need for funding to increase their capacity to serve.

A national study indicates that youth involved in formal, high-quality relationships with adult mentors skip half as many days of school as their peers. They are also:

• 46% less likely to initiate drug use

• 27% less likely to initiate alcohol use

• 32% less likely to hit someone

The best mentoring programs are well structured with clear expectations for both mentors and mentees, focus on goals, and provide ongoing support for volunteers.8 Three important factors for successful mentoring relationships are spending time together in shared activities, trust, and role modeling. Because the length of a mentoring relationship has an impact on outcomes, it is important for all involved parties (organizations, mentors, mentees, and parents) to strive to keep matches together.

• Mentoring programs are more likely to succeed if they are driven by the needs and interests of youth, rather than the expectations of adult volunteers.  Mentors should involve the youth in selecting activities and these activities should be youth-focused.

• Leisurely activities, shared over many months, establish the trust that is the foundation of the mentoring relationship.

• Regular attendance is essential; absent mentors or short relationships may do more harm than good.14

• they don’t have time

• they don’t know how to start

• they’ve never been asked

• they don’t know what they have to offer

• they aren’t sure what mentors do