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“A positive guiding hand”: A qualitative examination of youth-initiated mentoring and the promotion of interdependence among foster care youth

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  • Spencer, Renée
  • Drew, Alison L.
  • Gowdy, Grace
  • Horn, John Paul

Abstract

This qualitative interview study examined experiences of youth-initiated mentoring relationships (YIM) among youth transitioning out of the foster care system. YIM is an innovative approach wherein programs work with youth to identify adults within their existing social networks to serve as their mentors in the formal program. Participants were 13 mentor-youth dyads involved in a pilot trial of YIM in a mid-western city. Youth and mentors completed one-time, in-depth individual interviews. Narrative thematic analysis of the interview data yielded the following major findings: (a) youth overwhelmingly reported having a strong or very strong relationship with their mentor, (b) these relationships offered a number of forms of social support to the youth (i.e., appraisal, companionship, emotional, informational, and instrumental), and (c) the mentor was perceived to have positively impacted the youth during the course of the relationship in multiple ways, including the youth's psychological well-being, relationships with others, and beliefs about and orientation toward the future. These findings suggest that YIM is a promising approach for establishing meaningful and impactful connections that may promote interdependence for older foster care youth as they make the transition to adulthood.

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  • Spencer, Renée & Drew, Alison L. & Gowdy, Grace & Horn, John Paul, 2018. "“A positive guiding hand”: A qualitative examination of youth-initiated mentoring and the promotion of interdependence among foster care youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 41-50.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:93:y:2018:i:c:p:41-50
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.06.038
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ahrens, Kym R. & DuBois, David Lane & Garrison, Michelle & Spencer, Renee & Richardson, Laura P. & Lozano, Paula, 2011. "Qualitative exploration of relationships with important non-parental adults in the lives of youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 1012-1023, June.
    2. Thompson, Allison E. & Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Brunsink, Ashleigh M., 2016. "Natural mentoring among older youth in and aging out of foster care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 40-50.
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    4. Munson, Michelle R. & Smalling, Susan E. & Spencer, Renée & Scott Jr., Lionel D. & Tracy, Elizabeth M., 2010. "A steady presence in the midst of change: Non-kin natural mentors in the lives of older youth exiting foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 527-535, April.
    5. Samuels, Gina Miranda & Pryce, Julia M., 2008. ""What doesn't kill you makes you stronger": Survivalist self-reliance as resilience and risk among young adults aging out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(10), pages 1198-1210, October.
    6. Morton, Brenda M., 2017. "Growing up fast: Implications for foster youth when independence and early adulthood collide," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 156-161.
    7. Hass, Michael & Allen, Quaylan & Amoah, Michelle, 2014. "Turning points and resilience of academically successful foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 387-392.
    8. Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Thompson, Allison E. & Ali, Samira & Wenger, Rebecca Stern, 2015. "It's good to know that you got somebody that's not going anywhere: Attitudes and beliefs of older youth in foster care about child welfare-based natural mentoring," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 140-149.
    9. Goodkind, Sara & Schelbe, Lisa A. & Shook, Jeffrey J., 2011. "Why youth leave care: Understandings of adulthood and transition successes and challenges among youth aging out of child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 1039-1048, June.
    10. Schwartz, Sarah E.O. & Kanchewa, Stella S. & Rhodes, Jean E. & Cutler, Evan & Cunningham, Jessica L., 2016. "“I didn't know you could just ask:” Empowering underrepresented college-bound students to recruit academic and career mentors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 51-59.
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    2. Gowdy, Grace & Hogan, Sean, 2021. "Informal mentoring among foster youth entering higher education," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    3. Drew, Alison L. & Spencer, Renée, 2021. "Mentors’ approach to relationship-building and the supports they provide to youth: A qualitative investigation of community-based mentoring relationships," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    4. Colacchio Wesley, Bridget & Pryce, Julia & Barry, Johanna & Hong, Philip Young P., 2020. "Steadfast benevolence: A new framework for understanding important adult-youth relationships for adolescents in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    5. Nagpaul, Tania & Chen, Jinwen, 2019. "Self-determination theory as a Framework for understanding needs of youth at-risk: Perspectives of social service professionals and the youth themselves," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 328-342.
    6. Spencer, Renée & Pryce, Julia & Barry, Johanna & Walsh, Jill & Basualdo-Delmonico, Antoinette, 2020. "Deconstructing empathy: A qualitative examination of mentor perspective-taking and adaptability in youth mentoring relationships," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    7. Okland, Idun & Oterholm, Inger, 2022. "Strengthening supportive networks for care leavers: A scoping review of social support interventions in child welfare services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

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