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Four Ways to Better Support Young Adults Transitioning out of Foster Care

By Michael Pergamit and Marla McDaniel, Reprinted from the Urban Institute Congress established the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, known as Chafee, in 1999. That means the program, which provides support to assist young adults transitioning out of the foster care system, is now 23, the same age when […]

New study explores how peer mentoring enhances students’ career goals

Boat, A. A., Miranda, A., & Syvertsen, A. K. (2022). Enhancing education and career pathways through peer and near-peer social capital. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51(7), 1287–1304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01540-x Summarized by Ariel Ervin Notes of Interest:  Although social capital is known for assisting individuals with achieving their goals, research on this subject primarily examines the […]

Support Kids and Teens Following the Riot In Our Nation’s Capitol

By Gene Beresin and Khadijah Booth Watkins, Reprinted from the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds The images of chaos and violence in our nation’s Capitol that many children and teens have been seeing in the media have been disturbing and scary. What’s the impact on our kids? How can we as parents and caregivers […]

New study examines the effectiveness of instrumental mentoring for young adults

Schenk, L., Sentse, M., Lenkens, M., Nagelhout, G. E., Engbersen, G., & Severiens, S. (2020).  Instrumental Mentoring for Young Adults: A Multi-Method Study. Journal of Adolescent  Research, 0743558420979123. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558420979123 Summarized by Ariel Ervin Notes of Interest:  Although there is a limited amount of research on instrumental mentoring, where the mentor supports the mentee to accomplish […]

The pandemic has taken a toll on young adults’ mental health. A new study reveals just how severe it is

By Arianna MacNeill, Reprinted from Boston.com  It may come as no surprise that young adults are experiencing higher rates of depression and other mental health concerns as the COVID-19 pandemic rages forward in the U.S. But just how much higher are these cases compared to the pre-pandemic past? A new report led by Massachusetts General […]

Transition to adulthood for youth leaving care can be made smoother, safer

By Lisa Schelbe, Youth Today Avid cyclists understand if anyone spends enough time riding a bicycle, they will crash at some point. Crashes are more likely for someone who is learning to ride. Hopefully, it is not a dramatic flip over the handlebars in the midst of a crowded street after a car smashes into […]

Meeting youth where they are: Why social-emotional skills and culturally responsive mentoring is critical for college and career readiness

By Joana Ortiz, mentoring.org I knew something was off when I couldn’t focus in my courses, the weight of my head was too much to bear, and getting out of bed was increasingly difficult as the days passed. I couldn’t articulate this at the time, but I was suffering from depression. During the large part […]

Youth with spinal cord injuries improve quality of life with a model mentoring program called “Back on Track”

Shem, K., Medel, R., Wright, J., Kolakowsky-Hayner, S. A., & Duong, T. (2011). Return to work and school: A model mentoring program for youth and young adults with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord, 49(4), 544-549. Summarized by Jessica Cunningham, B. A., Lab Manager, Center of Evidence-Based Mentoring   Introduction:  People who become disabled in adolescence and […]

New study explores the mentoring in youth transitioning out of foster care

Munson, M.R., Brown, S., Spencer, R., Edguer, M., & Tracy, E. (2015). Supportive relationships among former system youth with mental health challenges. Journal of Adolescent Research, 30(4), 501-529. Background “Former system youth,” or young adults transitioning out of foster care, mental health, child welfare, and juvenile systems, experience poorer documented outcomes in domains of education, […]