2010 minnesota mentoring conference - keynote presentation

The Road from Research to Practice

Andrea S. Taylor, Ph.D.Temple University

The Intergenerational Center

qual·i·ty 

1. That which defines something or makes it what it is

2. Degree of excellence

(Dictionary: Macmillan p.786)

Why Does Quality Matter?

Greater academic achievement, school engagement, school adjustment and positive view of the future (Rhodes, Spencer, Keller, Liang & Noam, 2006; Taylor, LoSciuto, sonkowsky & 1999)

Why Does Quality Matter?

Improved relationships with parents (Tierney et. al. 1995)

Why Does Quality Matter?

Increased frequency of appropriate interaction with peers (Grossman and Gary, 1997)

Why Does Quality Matter?

Improved problem-solving skills (Taylor et.al.1999)

Why Does Quality Matter?

Reduced substance use/abuse (Aseltine et.al. 2000; LoSciuto et.al. 1996; Tierney et.al. 1995)

Why Does Quality Matter?

Overall reduction in risk-taking behavior (Beier,et.al. 2000)

Why Does Quality Matter?

Presence of a mentor most important asset for positive youth development that exists in communities (Theokas & Lerner, 2006; Larson, 2006)

By E.B. White(1952). Harper & Brothers. New YorkIllustrations by Garth Williams

A youth in need

Wilbur meets his new friend and mentor

Wilbur wants to be like his mentor .

HIS “ah ha” moment

Mentees respond to the image we have of them.

“Actually”, said Wilbur, “I FEEL radiant”.

The Reward

Mentoring as Social PolicyGary Walker: Public/Private Ventures 2007

• There is evidence (as cited) that mentoring is an effective strategy for improving the lives, behavior and performance of many youth;

• There is considerable skepticism about the effectiveness of other types of programming for youth , particularly those for adolescents; and

• Mentoring is a direct response to the overall reduction of adults in the lives of youth.

Mentoring as Social Policy:The Challenges

• The “Zero-Sum” Game

• The Limits of Scale

• Quality Control

• Mentoring is not a panacea for all youth

• Mentoring alone may not be enough

A Cautionary Tale :It’s not just “any mentoring””

Recruiting strategies for both mentors and mentees must be based on realistic expectations (Spencer, 2007)

Matching based on mentor’s skills, interpersonal skills and common interests with youth are important considerations (Spencer, 2006)

Elements of Effective Practice: 3rd EditionMENTOR (2009)

Mentor screening practices have implications for safety and match duration (DuBois & Neville, 1997)

Mentors receiving pre-match training reported higher levels of confidence, efficacy and closeness to their mentees and were more likely to continue for a second year (Herrera , 2007)

RESEARCH

PRACTICE

The road from research to practice doesn’t need to look like this…

It can look more like this…

Tools to Help Guide the Course

Two Questions

Why invest the time?

What are the challenges?

Why Invest the Time?

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AcrossAges

Case Study

ACROSS AGES:

An Intergenerational Mentoring Approach to Drug Prevention

Demonstration – Replication – Dissemination

ACROSS AGES

• Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA)• Across Ages Demonstration (1991-1996)• Across ages Replication (1996-1998)• Project Youth Connect (1999-2002)• Across Ages Dissemination (2002-2005)

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AcrossAges

85 Replications across the U.S.

Replication:Lessons Learned

• Organizational Capacity• Partnerships• Fidelity to Model/Community Impact• Sustainability

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AcrossAges

Time Money

What are the Challenges?

StaffOthers?

How Can We Address the Challenges?

Map Your Program - Identify Strengths and Gaps.

How Can We Address the Challenges?

Create a Logic Model

How Can We Address the Challenges?

Engage new or existing volunteers in capacity building roles.

How Can We Address the Challenges?

Utilize existing resources and tools.