Strategy. Parent Involvement
Approach. Include the participation of parents in the mentoring relationship for a better outcome for youth.
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Overview. It is important to understand and respect the perspectives and wishes of parents/caregivers in mentoring relationships. Effective communication and collaboration between mentors, parents, and program staff are crucial for positive outcomes in youth mentoring. Challenges arise when mentors struggle to align their approach with the parent's expectations, emphasizing the need for sensitivity and flexibility in working with parents to ensure successful mentoring relationships.[1]
Evidence. Moderate Evidence.
Strategies with this rating are likely to work...
Access the peer-reviewed evidence through the MCH Digital Library or related evidence source.
Outcome Components.
This strategy has shown to have impact on the following outcomes
(Read more about these categories):
- Quality of Care. This strategy promotes the degree to which healthcare services meet established standards aimed at achieving optimal health outcomes.
- Utilization. This strategy improves the extent to which individuals and communities use available healthcare services.
Detailed Outcomes.
For specific outcomes related to each study supporting this strategy,
access the peer-reviewed evidence
and read the Intervention Results for each study.
Intervention Type.
Collaboration (Read more about intervention types and levels as defined by the
Public Health Intervention Wheel).
Intervention Level.
Individual/Family-Focused
Examples from the Field.
There are currently no ESMs that use this strategy. Search similar intervention components in the
ESM database.
Sample ESMs.
Here are sample ESMs to use as models for your own measures using the RBA framework
(see The Role of Title V in Adapting Strategies).
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Quadrant 1:
Measuring Quantity of Effort (“What/how much did we do?”)
- Number of mentorship programs that offer opportunities and expectations for parent engagement and participation. (Measures program integration of parent involvement)
Number of mentors who receive training and support to effectively communicate, collaborate, and partner with parents in supporting youth development. (Shows mentor capacity-building for family engagement)
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Quadrant 2:
Measuring Quality of Effort (“How well did we do it?”)
- Percent of mentorship programs that offer opportunities and expectations for parent engagement and participation. (Measures program integration of parent involvement)
Percent of mentors who receive training and support to effectively communicate, collaborate, and partner with parents in supporting youth development. (Shows mentor capacity-building for family engagement)
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Quadrant 3:
Measuring Quantity of Effect (“Is anyone better off?”)
- Number of youth supported by Title V who report feeling more supported, understood, and validated in their mentoring experience when their parents are actively involved and engaged. (Measures youth perceptions of parent involvement benefits)
Number of parents collaborating with Title V who report increased trust, communication, and alignment with their child's mentor in supporting their development and addressing challenges. (Assesses quality and effectiveness of mentor-parent partnership)
Number of mentorship programs and youth-serving organizations that adopt and institutionalize parent engagement as a core element of their program design, operations, and continuous improvement process. (Measures field-level adoption and integration of parent involvement practices)
Number of communities partnered with Title V that experience increased parent leadership, agency, and collective efficacy in shaping youth development programs, supports, and opportunities as a result of their involvement in mentorship initiatives. (Assesses ripple effect and community-level impact of parent engagement)
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Quadrant 4:
Measuring Quality of Effect (“How are they better off?”)
- Percent of youth supported by Title V who report feeling more supported, understood, and validated in their mentoring experience when their parents are actively involved and engaged. (Measures youth perceptions of parent involvement benefits)
Percent of parents collaborating with Title V who report increased trust, communication, and alignment with their child's mentor in supporting their development and addressing challenges. (Assesses quality and effectiveness of mentor-parent partnership)
Percent of mentorship programs and youth-serving organizations that adopt and institutionalize parent engagement as a core element of their program design, operations, and continuous improvement process. (Measures field-level adoption and integration of parent involvement practices)
Percent of communities partnered with Title V that experience increased parent leadership, agency, and collective efficacy in shaping youth development programs, supports, and opportunities as a result of their involvement in mentorship initiatives. (Assesses ripple effect and community-level impact of parent engagement)
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Note. When looking at your ESMs, SPMs, or other strategies:
- Move from measuring quantity to quality.
- Move from measuring effort to effect.
- Quadrant 1 strategies should be used sparingly, when no other data exists.
- The most effective measurement combines strategies in all levels, with most in Quadrants 2 and 4.
Learn More. Read how to create stronger ESMs and how to measure ESM impact more meaningfully through Results-Based Accountability.
References
[1] Spencer R, McCormack MJ, Drew AL, Gowdy G, Keller TE. (Not) minding the gap: A qualitative interview study of how social class bias can influence youth mentoring relationships. J Community Psychol. 2022 Apr;50(3):1579-1596. doi: 10.1002/jcop.22737. Epub 2021 Nov 4. PMID: 34735021.
