Effectiveness of Programs
like Connected Futures for first generation and low-income college students
Studies show that these kinds of programs helped first-generation and low-income college students build their networks of relationships at college, which led to higher GPAs after just one year in college.
McKenna F. Parnes, Stella S. Kanchewa, Amy K. Marks, Sarah E.O. Schwartz, Closing the college achievement gap: Impacts and processes of a help-seeking intervention, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, Volume 67. (2020) [DOI]
Schwartz, S.E.O., Kanchewa, S.S., Rhodes, J.E., Gowdy, G., Stark, A.M., Horn, J.P., Parnes, M. and Spencer, R. (2018), “I'm Having a Little Struggle With This, Can You Help Me Out?”: Examining Impacts and Processes of a Social Capital Intervention for First‐Generation College Students. Am J Community Psychol, 61: 166-178. (2017) [PDF] [DOI]
Role of Mentoring Relationships
in the lives of youth
Learn more about “youth-initiated” approaches to mentoring that empower youth to create their own connections with adults, rather than assigning an unknown volunteer to mentor the student. These newer approaches have the potential to make mentoring relationships much more impactful, particularly for older youth. Recent evidence suggests that youth who can identify even one mentor in their lives show greater resilience, better relationships with their peers, fewer risky behaviors, and more academic and career success compared to youth who do not have a mentoring relationship in their lives.
Hagler, M.A. and Rhodes, J.E. (2018), The Long‐Term Impact of Natural Mentoring Relationships: A Counterfactual Analysis. Am J Community Psychol, 62: 175-188. (2018) [PDF] [DOI]
Preston, Justin. New research investigates long-term impacts of natural mentors. The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring, December 12, 2016. (2016) [DOI]
Schwartz, S.E. and Rhodes, J.E. (2016), From Treatment to Empowerment: New Approaches to Youth Mentoring. Am J Community Psychol, 58: 150-157. (2016) [DOI]