Group Mentoring: A Study of Mentoring Groups in Three Programs.

This study investigated three innovative group mentoring programs and examined findings from data collected in two earlier studies of mentoring programs. The three programs were YouthFriends, which provided technical assistance to school districts establishing school-based mentoring programs; TEAMWORKS, which organized teams of mentors to meet with groups of middle school students; and the Group Mentoring Program of the Be-A-Friend Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program, which assigned paid staff to mentor small groups of youth. Researchers interviewed program and school staff, youth, and mentors, and held focus groups with 12 additional mentors. The previous study involved interviewing mentors working with groups of youth and working one-on-one. Results indicate that group mentoring attracts volunteers who are less likely to volunteer for individual mentoring. The onsite programming of many group programs facilitates recruitment of youth who may have been missed by traditional recruitment efforts. Although most group mentors want to develop personal relationships with youth, they place more emphasis on improving peer interactions. While mentor-youth relationships can develop in group settings, the quality of these relationships varies widely. Participants reported improvements in youth's social skills, relationships with nongroup members, and academic performance and attitudes. (Contains 15 tables and 43 references.) (SM)