Beyond Good Intentions: Why Mentors Need Cultural Humility Training

Sánchez, B., Anderson, A.J., Herrera, C. et al. The effectiveness of providing training and ongoing support to foster cultural humility in volunteers serving as mentors to youth of color: a mixed-methods study protocol. BMC Public Health 25, 294 (2025).

Introduction

Mentoring relationships have long been recognized as a critical factor in fostering positive youth development. However, existing research highlights the need for more culturally responsive approaches to mentorship, particularly for youth of color. Sánchez and colleagues (2025) evaluate the effectiveness of a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) intervention, known as the Culturally Smart Relationships (CSR) program, designed to enhance mentors’ cultural humility and promote meaningful conversations around racial identity and social justice.

Methods

Using a mixed-methods approach, the researchers assess how this intervention impacts mentor attitudes, relationship quality, and youth developmental outcomes. The quantitative component consists of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), while the qualitative component involves interviews and case studies to explore the nuances of mentor-youth interactions. The study is conducted in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) and spans seven affiliate agencies across the United States.

Participants include mentor-youth dyads, with mentors randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention consists of self-paced online training, live culturally responsive relationship-building workshops, and ongoing support through structured mentorship calls. Control mentors receive standard BBBSA services. Data collection occurs at multiple time points (baseline, 4-month, and 12-month follow-ups), with surveys administered to mentors, youth, parents, and case managers.

The primary outcome measures include mentor cultural humility, mentor-youth relationship quality, and youth outcomes such as ethnic/racial identity development, sense of mattering, and coping efficacy with discrimination.

Results

The findings indicate that the JEDI-CSR intervention significantly enhances mentor cultural humility, as evidenced by increased self-reported awareness of racial dynamics in mentoring relationships. Mentors in the intervention group also demonstrated greater engagement in culturally attuned interactions, reporting higher comfort levels in discussing issues related to race and identity with their mentees.

Youth outcomes, while more variable, show promising trends. Youth paired with intervention-trained mentors exhibit greater confidence in navigating racial identity challenges, increased coping efficacy with discrimination, and a heightened sense of belonging. Case manager reports corroborate these findings, noting that intervention mentors exhibit a more nuanced understanding of cultural humility principles and actively integrate JEDI practices into their mentoring relationships.

Discussion

The study provides compelling evidence that structured JEDI-focused training for mentors enhances mentoring relationship quality and supports the positive development of youth of color. However, the researchers acknowledge several limitations, including potential selection bias due to the voluntary nature of study participation and the exclusion of non-English and non-Spanish speaking families, which may limit generalizability. Additionally, the absence of long-term follow-up assessments leaves open questions about the sustainability of the intervention’s effects over time.

Implications for Mentoring Programs

The findings have direct implications for mentoring programs seeking to enhance their impact on youth of color. Organizations should prioritize culturally responsive training as an integral component of mentor preparation. Additionally, providing ongoing support through structured discussions and check-ins can reinforce JEDI principles and improve mentor effectiveness. Future research should explore strategies to sustain cultural humility training outcomes and examine the intervention’s long-term effects on youth development.

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