
Evidence Tools
Adult Mentor
Introduction
This toolkit summarizes content from the Adult Mentor Evidence Accelerator and the MCHbest database. The peer-reviewed literature supporting this work can be found in the Established Evidence database. Use the resources below as you develop effective evidence-based/informed programs and measures.
From the MCH Block Grant Guidance. Having a connection to a caring adult is one of several Positive Youth Experiences and is a protective factor that has been associated with several measures of child well-being, including markers of flourishing, physical activity, participation in activities, talking with parents as well as decreased likelihood of bullying and depression.1 Furthermore, a growing evidence base demonstrates the effectiveness of programs to foster youth-adult partnerships in wide variety of settings (ex. after school programming2).
Goal. To increase the percent of adolescents with an adult mentor.
Note. Access other related measures in this Population Domain through the Toolkits page.
Detail Sheet: Start with the MCH Block Grant Guidance
DEFINITION
Numerators:
Number of adolescents, ages 12 through 17, who are reported by a parent to have at least one other adult in their school, neighborhood, or community who knows them well and who they can rely on for advice or guidance (NSCH)
Number of adolescents, ages 12 through 17, who report that they have some other adult they can talk to about a serious problem (NSDUH)
Denominators:
Number of adolescents, ages 12 through 17 (NSCH)
Number of adolescents, ages 12 through 17 (NSDUH)
Units: 100
Text: Percent
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2030 OBJECTIVE
Adolescent Health (AH) 03: Increase the proportion of adolescents who have an adult they can talk to about serious problems (Baseline: 79.0 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years had an adult in their lives with whom they could talk about serious problems in 2018, Target: 82.9%)
DATA SOURCES
National Survey of Children’s Health (parent-reported)
National Survey of Drug Use and Health (adolescent reported): used for overall state-level estimates only
MCH POPULATION DOMAIN
Adolescent Health
MEASURE DOMAIN
Social Determinants of Health
1. Accelerate with Evidence—Start with the Science
The first step to accelerate effective, evidence-based/informed programs is ensuring that the strategies we implement are meaningful and have high potential to affect desired change. Read more about using evidence-based/informed programs and then use this section to find strategies that you can adopt or adapt for your needs.
Evidence-based/Informed Strategies: MCHbest Database
The following strategies have emerged from studies in the scientific literature as being effective in advancing the measure. Use the links below to read more about each strategy or access the MCHbest database to find additional strategies.
Evidence-Informed |
Evidence-Based |
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Mixed Evidence |
Emerging Evidence |
Expert Opinion |
Moderate Evidence |
Scientifically Rigorous |
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Field-Based Strategies: Find promising programs from AMCHP’s Innovation Hub
Best:
Additional Practices from the Field:
- The National Youth Mentoring Initiative supports efforts by Boys & Girls Clubs to provide adult mentors.
- The Community Toolkit has developed a learning module on Building Youth Mentorship Programs.
- The New York State Mentoring Program is the nation’s first school-based one-to-one mentoring program. This highly successful program screens and trains volunteers and matches them to children in their communities.
2. Think Upstream with Planning Tools—Lead with the Need
The second step in developing effective, evidence-based/informed programs challenges us to plan upstream to ensure that our work addresses issues early and is measurable in “turning the curve” on big issues that face MCH populations. Read more about moving from root causes to responsive programs and then use this section to align your work with the data and needs of your populations.
Move from Need to Strategy
Use Root-Cause Analysis (RCA) and Results-Based Accountability (RBA) tools to build upon the science to determine how to address needs.
Planning Tools: Use these tools to move from data to action
3. Work Together with Implementation Tools—Move from Planning to Practice
The third step in developing effective, evidence-based/informed programs calls us to work together to ensure that programs are implementable and moveable within the realities of Title V programs and lead to improved health outcomes for all people. Read more about implementation tools designed for MCH population change and then use this section to develop responsive strategies to bring about change that is responsive to the needs of your populations.
Additional MCH Evidence Center Resources: Access supplemental materials from the literature
- Find field-based resources focused on improving access to a mentor relevant to Title V programs in the MCH Digital Library.
- Search the Established Evidence database for peer-reviewed research articles related to strategies for improving access to a mentor.
- Request Technical Assistance from the MCH Evidence Center
- MCH Evidence Center Frameworks and Toolkits:
Implementation Resources: Use these field-generated resources to affect change
Practice. The following tools can be used to translate evidence to action to advance this NPM:
- Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring (Mentor). An online guide with guidance to establish a mentoring program and addresses special populations.
- Resources for Mentoring Programs (National Mentoring Resource Center). This website contains resources reviewed by the National Mentoring Resource Center Research Board.
Partnership. The following organizations focus efforts on advancing FCC:
- MENTOR. Created over 30 years ago to support a youth mentoring field and movement.
- National Mentoring Resource Center. Provides mentoring tools, training, technical assistance, research summaries, and other information for youth mentoring programs.
The What Works for Health Database, developed by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, has identified several evidence-based programs:
References
Introductory References: From the MCH Block Grant Guidance
1 Murphey D, Bandy T, Schmitz H, Moore KA. Caring Adults: Important for Positive Child Well-Being. Child Trends, Publication #2013-54. 2013 December. https://www.childtrends.orgwp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013-54CaringAdults.pdf
2 Marttinen R, Johnston K, Phillips S, Fredrick RN, Meza B. REACH Harlem: young urban boys’ experiences in an after-school PA positive youth development program, Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. 2019;24:4, 373-389, doi: 10.1080/17408989.2019.1592147. https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/cpes20