Positive influences are integral to children’s development and overall well-being. This is why youth mentoring programs are essential to many kids’ growth and happiness. Having a support system kids know they can rely on allows them to flourish and become their best selves.

“I think it’s a really important program not just for the kids but also for the adults because, I think, it helps kids and adults stay in touch,” says TrueNorth volunteer mentor, Cathy, about the importance of the program she’s seen through her mentorship with her mentee, Cora. “I think it’s just an extra level of fun and it’s maybe nice sometimes to have somebody to talk to who’s like a third party but cares about you.”

Read below to learn about the need for mentoring programs, types of programs and their impacts and how you can step in and support the next generation.

Need for Youth Mentoring Programs

Many kids are in need of positive role models. According to MENTOR’s study, “Who Mentored You?,” by Micheal Garringer and Chelsea Benning, about 1.8 mil­lion young adults ages 18 to 24 nationwide ​“not only didn’t have a men­tor but couldn’t nom­i­nate any­one they felt was a mean­ing­ful per­son in their lives.” Garringer and Benning define a meaningful person in their study as “anyone with whom you spent time or who did a lot of good things for you, not including your immediate family or people that lived inside your home.” This definition was included in the study to ensure participants in the survey would include relationships outside their family that impacted them if they would not have initially described that person as a mentor. The study illustrates the need for mentoring nationwide to help ensure every child has a meaningful, supportive person in their life.

Michigan’s Need

In Michigan, there has been an increase in youth with mentors over the past few years, whether through a program or informally matched in the community. According to the Kids Count Data Center, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, in 2022 to 2023, 94% of youth ages 14 to 17 report they had at least one mentor in the community who provides guidance. This statistic represents “youth ages 14 to 17 whose parent reported that there is at least one adult outside the home, in the youth’s school, neighborhood or community who knows the youth well and who can be relied on for advice” as Kids Count notes. In contrast, in 2016 to 2017 only 89% reported the same thing. While these numbers seem high, there are some disparities in access to mentoring opportunities.

Garringer and Benning’s study also found that youth living in poverty or rural areas were less likely to have mentors than those in higher income households and urban communities. This shows the importance of having programs like TrueNorth Community Services’ TrueMentors program that serves Newaygo County youth where there are high percentages of kids living in poverty in the rural community. Keep reading to learn more about the types of youth mentoring programs available and how they support local kids.

Types of Youth Mentoring Programs

There are a variety of youth mentoring programs available in Michigan. For the purposes of this article, the types of programs TrueNorth Community Services offers will be discussed, including: Community-based, School-based and Outdoor-based mentoring. Each program type works to support local youths’ development, providing encouragement and enriching experiences to set kids up for success.

Providing opportunities to connect with mentors and peers is essential to helping kids grow into their best selves. This is seen in the article, “Adolescent connectedness: cornerstone for health and wellbeing,” by Robert W Blum, Joanna Lai, Michelle Martinez and Cassandra Jessee, as they discuss how youth programs that emphasize human connectedness are the most effective in supporting youth’s health and well-being. The article defines connectedness as “a sense of being cared for, supported, belonging and closeness with others that comes from protective and sustained relationships within families, schools and communities.” While each type of mentoring program has unique characteristics from the others, all three program types emphasize relationship-building and connection to fully support youth. Learn more about these programming characteristics below.

Community-based Mentoring

Community-based mentoring matches kids with volunteers from the community. With TrueNorth’s program, matches meet about four times each month and spend a minimum of eight hours monthly together. This helps kids quickly form strong relationships with their mentors. Not only do youth receive the support they need, but they also become more involved in their communities as mentors take them on new experiences.

Blum, Lai, Martinez and Jessee discuss in their article how youth experiencing stronger connections with their community helps their growth. They note, ”For adolescents, such community connectedness is influenced by the quality of youth-adult interactions, opportunities for meaningful input into community affairs, a sense of safety in the community and being welcome in public spaces.” Having another trusted adult kids know they can rely on helps strengthen both their feelings of community, especially when mentors show that community is a priority in their own life. Ultimately, these mentoring relationships provide the support kids need to grow into the leaders of tomorrow. Take a look at Cora’s story below to see how her mentorship has impacted her.

Cora’s Story

“Crazy fun,” is how Cora describes her relationship with her mentor Cathy. The two are an active match. From going to the beach, seeing sand dunes and being in nature to baking and doing a variety of crafts, they enjoy getting out and being creative.

Cathy especially enjoys these activities with Cora as she sees the world through her eyes. She says, “When we’ve gone to the beach, we go and we jump in the waves and when I go to the beach by myself, I sit there and read a book…It’s just a lot more fun to have Cora to do it with.”

Sharing these experiences with Cora has been extremely rewarding for Cathy. She sees Cora’s imagination at work whenever they are together and encourages her to explore new things. All of Cathy’s support has created a safe space for Cora to learn and grow.

“Sometimes like I don’t have anyone to do things with…she’s nice and likes to do crafts,” says Cora about why she enjoys her mentorship with Cathy. Not only do Cora and Cathy share similar interests, but most importantly, they also have cultivated a strong relationship–ultimately helping Cora flourish.

School-based Mentoring

School-based mentoring programs like TrueNorth’s TrueBlue Academy and Lions Together allow kids to build relationships with their peers and mentors. Having a supportive environment where youth can learn and practice interpersonal skills, explore career paths and learn more about their strengths and interests helps kids grow into caring, confident leaders.

In these programs, kids interact with others they may not have classes with, helping broaden their friendships and perspectives. In doing so, youth have stronger relationships along with good social and emotional health as Blum, Lai, Martinez and Jessee note in their article. Having the opportunity to meet with mentors and peers during the school day helps kids become more connected and successful at school. Check out Jace’s story below to learn how his time at TrueBlue Academy has helped him grow.