Needs of Youth and Parents From Multi-Problem Families in the Search for Youth-Initiated Mentors

Abstract

Youth-initiated mentoring is an innovative youth care approach in which youth recruit supportive adults from their social networks as a mentor for youth and a partner for parents and professionals. This qualitative interview study documents what youth ( n = 15) and parents ( n = 13) from multi-problem families look for in a mentor, what mentors ( n = 8) believe they have to offer, and whether what mentors believe to offer matches youth’s and parents’ needs. Youth and parents indicated that a strong connection and trust were most important, or even prerequisites, as youth who were unable to find mentors did not have strong relationships of trust. Youth and parents also voiced preferences for an understanding, sensitive mentor who offered youth perspective by providing support and advice and (according to some) setting rules. What mentors believed to offer matched youth’s and parents’ needs, suggesting that most youth successfully recruited suitable mentors.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary treatment with youth-initiated mentoring for youths with mental health needs from multi-problem families: a quasi-experimental study

“…In sum, the InConnection approach outperforms care as usual only in two parent-reported outcomes: youth emotional and behavioral problems and positive parenting. Although the positive effects compared to care as usual are small in number, the absence of negative effects and the positive views families have of this treatment [ 97 ] suggest that the InConnection approach can be a valuable treatment for multi-problem families, especially until more effective treatment programs or elements have been developed, which could be used to enhance or replace existing treatments.…”

Effectiveness, working mechanisms, and implementation of youth-initiated mentoring for juvenile delinquents: a multiple-methods study protocol

“…YIM has been shown to impact positive youth outcomes, like improved psychological well-being, strengthened relationships, achievement of educational and occupational goals, and strengthened partnerships to support youth adjusting to independent living. These positive outcomes were observed in various vulnerable groups, such as youths who dropped out of high school, youths from multiproblem families receiving youth care, youths at risk for out-of-home-placement, and youths in foster care (e.g., Koper et al, 2021;Schwartz et al, 2013;Spencer et al, 2018;Van Dam et al, 2017). However, it should be noted that no strong conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of YIM, as seven out of nine studies adopted a qualitative study design, and none adopted a (quasi-) experimental study design.…”

Positive parenting practices support children at neurological risk during COVID-19: a call for accessible parenting interventions

“…One factor that may positively impact children's mental health in at-risk families is positive parenting (Black and Lobo, 2008;Torres Fernandez et al, 2013;Daks et al, 2020;Guruge et al, 2021). Positive parenting includes parental flexibility, parental responsiveness, constructive parenting, and emotional warmth (Tamis-Lemonda et al, 1996), and it can lead to more positive parent-child relationships -a well-established determinant of well-being in children (von Suchodoletz et al, 2011;Seay et al, 2014;Weeland et al, 2021;Koper et al, 2022;Shoychet et al, 2022;Wang et al, 2022;Yates and Mantler, 2023). For example, positive parenting practices with children with ADHD can act as a protective factor against conduct problems (Chronis et al, 2007;Healey et al, 2011;Dvorsky and Langberg, 2016).…”