Entries by Jean Rhodes

Natural Mentors and Education: Complementary or Compensatory Resources?

Summarized by UMass Boston clinical psychology doctoral student Laura Yoviene, MA Erickson, L., McDonald, S., & Elder, G. (2013). Informal mentors and education: Complementary or compensatory resources? Sociology of Education, 82, 344-367. Problem: The majority of research on mentoring has focused on how it can influence  the lives of disadvantaged youths;  whereas very few studies […]

A conversation with Professor Nancy Deutsch

Editors note: Several of the studies we’ve highlighted in the Chronicle have been conducted (or influenced) by the work of Nancy Deutsch, an Associate Professor in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. She is also affiliated with Youth-Nex, the U.Va. Center to Promote Effective Youth Development. Professor Deutsch’s research is focused on […]

Why coaches matter: Implications for mentoring

  Editor’s Note: Ronald E. Smith and Frank L. Smoll are Professors of Psychology at the University of Washington and co-directors of the Youth Enrichment in Sports Project. The y-e-sports.com website contains descriptions of the coach and parent interventions and of their underlying scientific studies. Their book, Sports Psychology for Youth Coaches: Developing Champions in Youth and Life is […]

16 Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) affiliates selected to participate in the nationwide “Youth Relationships Study.”

Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to announce that it is one of 16 Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) affiliates selected from across the country to participate in the nationwide “Youth Relationships Study.” This rigorous study will evaluate the benefits that BBBS mentoring relationships provide to participating youth in several key areas, such as […]

The three pillars of trauma-informed care: Implications for mentoring

  Bath, H. (2008). The three pillars of trauma-informed care. Reclaiming children and youth, 17(3), 17-21. Summarized by Elyssa Weber Introduction:  There is a growing awareness of the pervasive impact of trauma on children.  In particular, it is known to affect brain functioning and change the neurological systems that govern stress responses.  Trauma is also […]

How positive youth development programs foster self-regulation

Mueller, M., Phelps, E., Bowers, E., Agans, J., Urban, J., & Lerner, R. (2011). Youth development program participation and intentional self-regulation skills: Contextual and individual bases of pathways to positive youth development. Journal of Adolescence, 34, 1115-1125. Problem: Quality youth development (YD) programs have been shown to be a strong context for promoting positive outcomes. […]

Ending mentoring relationships: Important lessons from child psychotherapy

by Jean Rhodes Research on early terminations in therapy, including the specific behaviors and attitudes that increase their likelihood, is relevant to mentoring relationships. Nearly half of all therapeutic ties terminate prematurely, owing to a variety of factors. Sometimes parents or spouses sabotage the process; sometimes clients reenact earlier, dysfunctional behaviors; and sometimes clients are dissatisfied […]

An interview with Professors Greg Duncan and Richard Murnane

Editor’s note: If you are interested in how poverty affects young people and their educational opportunities, I’d like recommend  Whither Opportunity? Rising Inequality, Schools, and Outcomes, edited by Greg Duncan (U.C.-Irvine) and Richard Murnane (Harvard University). This volume explores how rising inequality is compromising the capacity of public schools to provide our nation’s youth with opportunities for […]

Mentor Duty Should Be the New Jury Duty

By Brandon Busteed, Executive Director of Gallup Education reprinted from Gallup As millions of kids head back to school this year — eager to learn and grow — it’s hard not to wonder whether school is really the best and only developmental path any more. Most kids today need something very different from what is […]