Why Connected Futures?
Because mentors matter!
Research shows that adolescents and young adults who can identify at least one non-parental adult in their lives tend to show more resilience, have better mental health, and do better in school and in their jobs.
Connecting with adults at school can be especially important for getting the help and information you need to succeed academically and achieve your goals, all while coping with stressors and difficult decisions. Lots of students struggle to connect with adults in meaningful ways, especially those outside of their families.
Who exactly should you ask for different kinds of help, and how should you approach them?
How should you go about “networking” and what are helpful ways for coping with frustrating experiences of rejection?
Connected Futures answers these questions and more, empowering students to develop the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to connect more effectively with adults who can help them achieve their goals.
Most importantly, research supports the effectiveness of Connected Futures. Initial evidence suggests that students who complete Connected Futures have more positive attitudes about seeking help from adults, closer relationships with their teachers, and even higher grades.
How it Works
Students sign up for one of our three lesson plans, adapted for middle school, high school, or college students.
Each curriculum is designed to help students build social support given their unique developmental stage, and includes four, interactive online lessons that students can move through at their own pace.
In addition to general content about setting goals, addressing common barriers to accessing social support, and handling rejection, students also receive targeted information about cultivating relationships with mentors within their particular school context. Scroll through the boxes below to learn more about examples of topics specific to each course.
Each lesson contains suggestions for practical exercises that students can use to try out these new skills in their own lives. And as they progress through the lessons, students build a Connected Futures Toolbox full of resources that are theirs to keep and use at any time. Get started today!
