2003 Maine Marks
Indicator: 20 - Youth Mentored
To Be Developed

Why This Is Important

Young people who are involved in effective mentoring programs are more likely to experience nurturing relationships and less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Empirical evidence demonstrates that the mentoring relationship is a significant protective factor for both the person mentoring and the person receiving the attention of the mentor. A national study conducted by Public/Private Ventures for Big Brothers and Big Sisters (1995) showed that youth with mentors:

• were less likely to begin using alcohol and other illegal drugs;

• improved school attendance and performance, and attitudes towards completing school work; and

• improved peer and family relationships.

Where We Stand

The Maine Mentoring Partnership (originally the Governor’s Committee on Mentoring Youth) aims to promote, advocate, foster and support child and youth mentoring programs throughout Maine. This collaboration of government, public and private mentoring program providers, funders and private for-profit supporters includes community-based, school-based and faith-based mentoring programs. The Partnership’s goal is to provide 15% (35,000) of Maine’s children and youth with mentoring relationships by the year 2005.

The Partnership’s Providers Council (formed in 2002) advises the Partnership on mentoring needs across the state. One of the Council’s first tasks was to do a statewide survey to assess the needs and capacity of mentoring providers. The Council mailed surveys to 1,102 sites. Preliminary results from 137 respondents revealed that there were 23,444 one-to-one mentoring matches statewide (including 19,219 reported by Maine 4- H). The surveys indicated there were 6,573 mentors across Maine, and about 1,200 youth on waiting lists for a mentor.

Data Sources and Context

The data for this indicator came from a 2002 survey of mentoring providers conducted by the Maine Mentoring Partnership’s Provider Council. This “State of Mentoring Report” is available on line at http://www.mainementoring.org.