ABSTRACT
Traditional approaches to mentoring typically rely on a programme bringing together an at-risk youth with a volunteer adult mentor. Although some of these relationships result in long-lasting and influential relationships, too many formal mentoring relationships are characterised instead by premature relationship terminations, small effect sizes, and erosion of effects when the relationship ends. In light of these limitations, informed by a developmental systems framework, new strategies have been developed that empower young people to identify potential mentors and supportive adults from within their existing social networks. One such approach is Youth-Initiated Mentoring (YIM) in which adolescents recruit an adult from their community, with training and support provided by programme staff. In a related approach, connected scholars, marginalised students are taught skills and attitudes to encourage them to expand their networks of support and cultivate relationships with potential academic and career mentors. The current chapter will examine existing research and theory related to YIM, Connected Scholars, and other promising programme practices, arguing that by incorporating strategies to facilitate natural mentoring relationships and empower youth to recruit mentors, the youth mentoring field can further its goal of ensuring that all young people are connected to supportive adults.
