Study: Effectiveness of Group Mentoring for Children Receiving Mental Health Services

This study from the July issue of Child & Family Behavior Therapy, shows the positive benefits of mentoring for youth receiving mental health services at a community health center. The mentoring model involved matching a college student, with a social work/therapeutic background, with four 8-12 year old mentees, for 12 weekly, group-mentoring sessions. Sessions lasted four hours, and included structured activities on social problem-solving and social interaction, as well as fun outings and mentee-chosen activities. All of the mentees and control group participants were receiving additional therapeutic services during the study, so the positive effects of the group mentoring program were in addition to the impacts of other interventions. The summary of sessions includes a list of the types of activities utilized. Mentors received an initial 24-hour training, as well as ongoing training.

The authors found that group mentoring significantly increased children's reported social problem-solving skills and decreased parent-reported child externalizing and internalizing behavior problems compared to the control group.

Cognitive Behavioral Principles Within Group Mentoring: A Randomized Pilot Study
Authors: Jason F. Jent; Larissa N. Niec
DOI: 10.1080/07317100903099258
Publication Frequency: 4 issues per year Published in: Child & Family Behavior Therapy, Volume 31, Issue 3 July
2009 , pages 203 - 219
(those interested can either purchase the article online or access it through a library)