Creating Effective Mentoring Relationships with Urban Youth

Abstract

This project is an initial investigation into student perceptions of the “Family of Five” mentoring program in this school The Family of Five program in this school is designed to reengage disenfranchised youth in the educational system. All staff members at this school are asked to mentor a family of five students. Staff members are asked to meet with each of the five students on a weekly basis, monitor their academic progress, develop a relationship with the students family and provide an opportunity for the student to develop a supportive relationship with adults in this school. Many of this school’s students have a significant history of poor academic performance, disciplinary issues, and truancy. This project will explore the students’ perceptions of their educational experience as part of the Family of Five program. The information gathered from this project will be used to develop future programming to support the students at this school. This project is conducted under the premises that students who feel supported by the adults in their lives will increase their ability to be academically successful.