Entries by Mia Lamont

Supporting Educational Outcomes for Foster Youth: Findings from UGrad Academy

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Drake, A. P., Baum, V. L., Maley, B., & Shideler, M. A. (2025). Improving educational outcomes for youth in foster care: An evaluation of UGrad Academy. Children and Youth Services Review, 169, 108103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.108103 Introduction National statistics consistently reveal that students in foster care graduate at far lower rates than their peers, are more frequently […]

New Newsletter Focusing on Effective Allyship for LGBTQ+ Youth

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As LGBTQ+ youth across the country face mounting challenges to their rights, safety, and sense of belonging, many are asking: What does it truly mean to be an ally? In response to that question, longtime advocate and youth development leader Dr. Christian Rummell has launched a new newsletter: Ally: Verb in Action. This timely and […]

Measuring School Belongingness: the Importance of Identity Validation

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Stickl Haugen, J., Frawley, C., & Bledsoe, K. G. (2025). The development of the Student Belonging Scale: A measure of school belonging. Professional School Counseling, 29(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X251340045 IntroductionStudents’ sense of belonging is closely tied to academic success, mental health, and social development. However, existing tools rarely capture how students’ cultural identities shape their experiences […]

Reclaiming Youth Narratives in Urban Communities of Color

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Tyson McCrea, K., Richards, M., Wilkins, K. V., Moore II, A., Miller, K. M., Onyeka, C., Watson, H., Denton, D., Temple, U., Smith, T., & Daniels, E. (2025). “We are not all gangbangers”: Youth in high-poverty urban U.S. communities of color describe their attitudes toward violence, struggles, and resilience. Journal of Human Behavior in the […]

Profiles in Mentoring: Katherine Tyson McCrea on Uplifting Youth Mentors of Color

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Katherine Tyson McCrea, PhD., is the Principal Investigator of the Empowering Counseling Program Participatory Science Initiative (ECP-PSI), and professor at the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work. For nearly two decades, Dr. McCrea has led ECP-PSI in providing free mental health and enrichment programming to over 1,000 marginalized youth, while advancing participatory research that […]

One-Time Growth Mindset Intervention for Teachers Enhances Academic Outcomes for Low-SES Students

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Hecht, C. A., Bryan, C. J., & Yeager, D. S. (2023). A values-aligned intervention fosters growth mindset–supportive teaching and reduces inequality in educational outcomes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(25), e2210704120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2210704120 Introduction The persistent academic disparities rooted in socioeconomic status (SES) continue to challenge the U.S. education system. Despite efforts to broaden […]

Pictures with Purpose: Rethinking Mentee Engagement through ‘Photovoice’

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Sattin-Bajaj, C., Romo-González, L., & Dee Dee Hong, D. (2025). Building classroom relationships through photovoice. The Elementary School Journal. https://doi.org/10.1086/735473 Introduction A persistent challenge in education is fostering a sense of belonging and authentic connection between students and teachers. Despite evidence that positive student–teacher relationships support academic success and well-being, classroom dynamics often remain hierarchical, […]

Leveraging Technology to Address Youth Loneliness

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Shah, H. A., & Househ, M. (2023). Understanding loneliness in younger people: Review of the opportunities and challenges for loneliness interventions. Interactive Journal of Medical Research, 12, e45197. https://doi.org/10.2196/45197 Introduction A growing body of research shows that young people are equally, if not more, vulnerable to chronic loneliness than older adults. Using the framework of […]

Mentoring in Denmark: Evidence for the Importance of a Year-Long Bond

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Damm, A. P., von Essen, E., Jensen, A. J., Kerrn-Jespersen, F., & van Mastrigt, S. (2022). Duration of mentoring relationship predicts child well-being: Evidence from a Danish community-based mentoring program. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 2906. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052906 Introduction Community-based youth mentoring programs have long been credited with supporting child development, yet […]

Real-World Effectiveness of Coaching Support on Digital Therapeutic Engagement Among College Students

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Bowers, E. M., Klimczak, K. S., & Levin, M. E. (2025). Evaluating the naturalistic implementation of a peer-coaching service to augment online acceptance and commitment therapy for college mental health. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 36, 100897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100897 IntroductionCan peer coaching bolster student engagement with online interventions when offered outside the confines of a research […]