Fostering Healthy Futures – Preteen
Preadolescent children (ages 9-11) who have current or previous child welfare involvement due to one or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Mentoring Programs (Child & Adolescent)
Definition
Mentoring Programs (Child & Adolescent) are defined by the CEBC as programs in which there is a structured relationship between a child or adolescent involved in the child welfare system and an older individual (the mentor), with the goal of developing the competence and potential of the child or adolescent (the mentee). Children placed in foster, kinship, and congregate care may experience multiple placement changes and/or reunification, leading to instability in home, neighborhood, school, and community environments. A mentor may serve as a stable adult in a young person's life throughout these transitions.
- Target population: Children and adolescents involved in the child welfare system, especially those in out-of-home care
- Services/types that fit: Programs in which there is a structured relationship between a child/youth and an older individual, with the goal of developing the competence and potential of the mentee
- Delivered by: Trained adult mentors and the agency staff that supervise them (child welfare staff, mental health professionals, or trained paraprofessionals)
- In order to be included: Mentoring services must be a primary mechanism for the program
- In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines outcomes for the youth, such as changes in child welfare outcomes (e.g., reduced out-of-home placement, placement changes, etc.) or changes in youth behavior, symptom levels, and/or functioning.
Downloadable Topic Area Summary
Definition
Mentoring Programs (Child & Adolescent) are defined by the CEBC as programs in which there is a structured relationship between a child or adolescent involved in the child welfare system and an older individual (the mentor), with the goal of developing the competence and potential of the child or adolescent (the mentee). Children placed in foster, kinship, and congregate care may experience multiple placement changes and/or reunification, leading to instability in home, neighborhood, school, and community environments. A mentor may serve as a stable adult in a young person's life throughout these transitions.
- Target population: Children and adolescents involved in the child welfare system, especially those in out-of-home care
- Services/types that fit: Programs in which there is a structured relationship between a child/youth and an older individual, with the goal of developing the competence and potential of the mentee
- Delivered by: Trained adult mentors and the agency staff that supervise them (child welfare staff, mental health professionals, or trained paraprofessionals)
- In order to be included: Mentoring services must be a primary mechanism for the program
- In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines outcomes for the youth, such as changes in child welfare outcomes (e.g., reduced out-of-home placement, placement changes, etc.) or changes in youth behavior, symptom levels, and/or functioning.
Downloadable Topic Area Summary
Programs
My Life
Youth and young adults, ages 15-19, in foster care who are able to go into the community with their program coach, including youth with disabilities and/or mental health conditions
Better Futures
Youth and young adults in foster care, including youth with disabilities and/or mental health conditions, who are: 1) in their final year of high school or GED completion, 2) not opposed to the idea of participating in postsecondary education, and 3) permitted to go into the community with their Better Futures coach
Across Ages
Youth ages 9 to 13 who are at a high-risk for substance abuse
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Youth aged 5-18 seeking additional support from a caring adult who guides them through goal-setting activities and relationship building skills to prepare them for long-term success in school, in the workplace, and in their personal lives.
Friends for Youth 1 to 1 Mentoring
Youth ages 8-17 (referred by teachers, counselors, probation officers, county mental health, child protective/welfare services, or other youth-serving professionals) who are at-risk of not reaching their full potential due to challenges at home, at school, and/or in their neighborhood
Friends of the Children
Children ages 4-6 years who are at serious risk of entering or reentering foster care, and/or who are already involved in the foster care system. Children participate through high school graduation.
Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model
Youth and young adults (14-29 years old) with, or at risk of, emotional/behavioral difficulties (EBD) [e.g., severe mental health conditions and related challenges] who often have extensive histories of serious mental health challenges, multisystem involvement, out-of-home placements or homelessness, high prevalence of developmental trauma and delays, possible involvement with the court system and/or incarceration, and/or co-occurring substance use/abuse problems
BEST Kids
Youth aged 6 to 21 years who are currently in or have been in the child welfare system
Silver Lining Mentoring
Youth (ages 7+) with current or prior experience in foster care
Programs
Fostering Healthy Futures – Preteen
Preadolescent children (ages 9-11) who have current or previous child welfare involvement due to one or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
My Life
Youth and young adults, ages 15-19, in foster care who are able to go into the community with their program coach, including youth with disabilities and/or mental health conditions
Better Futures
Youth and young adults in foster care, including youth with disabilities and/or mental health conditions, who are: 1) in their final year of high school or GED completion, 2) not opposed to the idea of participating in postsecondary education, and 3) permitted to go into the community with their Better Futures coach
Across Ages
Youth ages 9 to 13 who are at a high-risk for substance abuse
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Youth aged 5-18 seeking additional support from a caring adult who guides them through goal-setting activities and relationship building skills to prepare them for long-term success in school, in the workplace, and in their personal lives.
Friends for Youth 1 to 1 Mentoring
Youth ages 8-17 (referred by teachers, counselors, probation officers, county mental health, child protective/welfare services, or other youth-serving professionals) who are at-risk of not reaching their full potential due to challenges at home, at school, and/or in their neighborhood
Friends of the Children
Children ages 4-6 years who are at serious risk of entering or reentering foster care, and/or who are already involved in the foster care system. Children participate through high school graduation.
Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model
Youth and young adults (14-29 years old) with, or at risk of, emotional/behavioral difficulties (EBD) [e.g., severe mental health conditions and related challenges] who often have extensive histories of serious mental health challenges, multisystem involvement, out-of-home placements or homelessness, high prevalence of developmental trauma and delays, possible involvement with the court system and/or incarceration, and/or co-occurring substance use/abuse problems
BEST Kids
Youth aged 6 to 21 years who are currently in or have been in the child welfare system
Silver Lining Mentoring
Youth (ages 7+) with current or prior experience in foster care
Why was this topic chosen by the Advisory Committee?
The Mentoring Programs (Child & Adolescent) topic area is relevant to child welfare because mentoring programs can be a way for improving outcomes for youth in the child welfare system. Children in the foster care system often lack connections to adults who can provide support and guidance, and model how to successfully negotiate the many challenges in life. Too many foster children limit their own expectations for themselves since they lack the opportunities to see possibilities for their lives.
Danna Fabella, Director
Federal Linkages
Child & Family Policy Institute of California
Sacramento, CA
Why was this topic chosen by the Advisory Committee?
The Mentoring Programs (Child & Adolescent) topic area is relevant to child welfare because mentoring programs can be a way for improving outcomes for youth in the child welfare system. Children in the foster care system often lack connections to adults who can provide support and guidance, and model how to successfully negotiate the many challenges in life. Too many foster children limit their own expectations for themselves since they lack the opportunities to see possibilities for their lives.
Danna Fabella, Director
Federal Linkages
Child & Family Policy Institute of California
Sacramento, CA
Topic Expert
The Mentoring Programs (Child & Adolescent) topic area was added in 2012. Heather Taussig, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2012 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2012 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Taussig was not involved in identifying or rating them.
Topic Expert
The Mentoring Programs (Child & Adolescent) topic area was added in 2012. Heather Taussig, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2012 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2012 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Taussig was not involved in identifying or rating them.