Book Description

A child at loose ends needs help, and someone steps in--a Big Brother, a Big Sister, a mentor from the growing ranks of volunteers offering their time and guidance to more than two million American adolescents. Does it help? How effective are mentoring programs, and how do they work? Are there pitfalls, and if so, what are they? Such questions, ever more pressing as youth mentoring initiatives expand their reach at a breakneck pace, have occupied Jean Rhodes for more than a decade. In this provocative, thoroughly researched, and lucidly written book, Rhodes offers readers the benefit of the latest findings in this burgeoning field, including those from her own extensive, groundbreaking studies.

Outlining a model of youth mentoring that will prove invaluable to the many administrators, caseworkers, volunteers, and researchers who seek reliable information and practical guidance, Stand by Me describes the extraordinary potential that exists in such relationships, and discloses the ways in which nonparent adults are uniquely positioned to encourage adolescent development. Yet the book also exposes a rarely acknowledged risk: unsuccessful mentoring relationships--always a danger when, in a rush to form matches, mentors are dispatched with more enthusiasm than understanding and preparation--can actually harm at-risk youth. Vulnerable children, Rhodes demonstrates, are better left alone than paired with mentors who cannot hold up their end of the relationships.

Drawing on work in the fields of psychology and personal relations, Rhodes provides concrete suggestions for improving mentoring programs and creating effective, enduring mentoring relationships with youth.

Customer Reviews (6)

Risks and Rewards, by an Expert in the Field
Dr. Rhodes knows her stuff, and beyond her interest in facts, figures and statistics you get the feeling she actually cares about youth in a one to one way, not just in hundreds of thousands.When she says that there are two million teens involved in some sort of mentoring program, it makes you feel sad about the millions more who need such a program and yet don't have the means or incentive to discover it for themselves.For, as her research shows, such programs are often of great benefit to the youths, who would grow up with twisted morality or stunted social values without mentoring.

And yet there is a dark side to this happy story, for all too often (says Dr. Rhodes) there may be a boy or girl whose psyche is not helped at all by tutoring (or mentoring) and who may be poorly matched with someone who really owly cares for them to the extent that they can feel good about themselves and tell their friends around the water cooler, "Oh, I helped my Little Brother this weekend," when really all he did was perhaps drive him to an arcade and give him a ten dollar bill telling the boy to enjoy himself.Such mentoring does not help--and even worse, this may hurt the kids.For young people are not cogs in a mechanical wheel, and they do not have interchangeable parts.In this way adolescence has bypassed modernism, and it is time the sociologists realized it.

Dr. Rhodes follows correct protocols, and yet she still believes in the sanctity of the individual personality--you might even say, the "soul" of the at-risk teen.

Mentoring and the benefits for everyone
As someone who was searching for a book on mentoring young students this book helps put things into perspective.Ms. Rhodes explains the benefits of the youth needing to be helped and those who help them. Rhodes examines the psychological process behind mentoring. She expands upon the bonds that develops between mentors and youth, what they bring to the process and what they get out of it, and the important role adults who are not their parents can play in the development of children. A lot of us know that mentoring is important but she brings the facts to life. She explains the need to take great care when deciding to be a mentor or not, infact she says do not become a mentor if your heart is not completely into it.

She uses many different thoriest to prove her points and help you better understand why young people need to be mentored, reguradless of their backgrounds.I thought that I knew a lot about the benefits of mentoring the young, but she clarifies why the young need the mentoring and why there is a stronger need for mentors these days. She explains that there are more single parent or duel working parents and therefore there is less adult child relationships within the family. She tells us of the importance of mentorsto help the young become better people by basing their decisions on good role models and not just their friends.

A sane and scientific approach to understanding mentoring
Jean Rhodes, professor of psychology at UMass-Boston and former faculty member at Harvard and UChicago, has written the most thorough book to date about the mentoring process. Employing superb research skills and accessible language for both a professional and lay audience, she captures some of the essential components of mentoring that we as a society need to discuss from both a public policy perspective and a psychological care approach. Her analysis and discussion of ten years of empirical research help support her arguement with essential data that adds to the growing body of knowledge on mentoring. This is a book for community activists, religious leaders, social scientists and concerned citizens.
PM Camic, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Education, Columbia College Chicago

Terrific book for mentors, community leaders, educators!
This is a timely, in-depth book that really gives folks a perspective of the joys and challenges of mentoring. Superb resource and important data for all to see! I highly recommend this book for anyone who understands or wishes to understand the relevance of youth mentoring.

Mentoring 101-Everything you wanted to know about mentoring
As someone who has worked in the field of youth mentoring for over 30 years, this is a book I've been waiting for. Ms. Rhodes combines research with readability, validating what a lot of us already know about the power of mentoring.Equally important are her concerns as mentoring programs expand into new venues and plan on significant growth. Her research reminds us of the challenges and care that must be taken to build sustainable, long term relationships.

Having read the original Public Private Ventures research on Big Brother Big Sister, I found her deeper analysis of their data and findings an excellent addition to the original findings of the study.

The chapters on why some relationships work and others fail,is insightful and should be read by any adult involved in a mentoring relationship or considering the possibility.Again,
her ability to translate her research into practical how toadvice, and explain why it works is extraordinary.

For program planners, her step-by-step advice on how to develop an effective mentoring program is invaluable and research based.Her emphasis on training and the infrastructure of support needed for mentors to be successful, is an important reminder as mentoring goes "to scale".

There is a wealth of information in this easily readable book and I highly recommend it to anyone who cares about effective, quality mentoring for today's youth. ... Read more

Book Description

*WINNER: SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE's 2006 Social Policy Award for Best Edited Book*

Praise for Handbook of Youth Mentoring:

"This book is therefore timely in that an urgent need exists for a clear sighted, comprehensive and inclusive unpacking of key themes and debates around mentoring"         
                                                                                                        YOUTH & POLICY

"The scope and depth of scholarship and application pertinent to youth mentoring is masterfully integrated in this significant and timely resource. This handbook is a vital reference for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers concerned with the promotion of positive youth development."                                                      

                                                                                  -Richard M. Lerner, Tufts University

Book Description
This book is a daily mentoring reference, a guide to mentors mentees and is a basic information guide for anyone who desires to become a mentor. It helps churches, communities and schools start a mentoring program with their organization and develop the minds, spirits and entrepreneurial talents of the youth in rural cities and suburban America. This book is also helpful to university professors who teach sociology and social work classes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Mentoring and the rites of passage for youth
This book is good enjoyed it very much. Would have been helpful if I had a teaching tool of this kind when I had two young males in my home as a single black mother. But as a director of a mentoring program I have to pick and choose what I want and can use becaues we mentor to kids of all race and teaching diversity. I would like to recomend this book to others but it is focusing on the black youth only we need help with allyouths.that has problems.and need mentors.

A Must Read
I enjoyed your book, it is a must read for the single mother.

Our youths are our futures
Our youths are our futures, and it is wonderful that someone has picked up the banner to fight for their futures.Mr. Steele, your book was an enjoyment to read.We all must understand that today's youths lack motivation.If there are mentors, and a curriculum or guide to being a better mentor, we will then produce better children and a better society.WELL DONE!!! I cannot wait to read more of your works.

Very good book
Mr. Steele , I found your book to be very interesting..I think you have all the right ideas...Would love to read more of your work...

Exciting
I found your book to be very pleasing as well as inspiring...keep up the good work ... Read more

Book Description
Mentoring has become an almost essential aspect of youth development and is expanding beyond the traditional one-to-one, volunteer, community-based mentoring. This volume provides evidence of the benefits of enduring high-quality mentoring programs, as well as apprenticeships, advisories, and other relationship-based programs that show considerable promise. Authors examine mentoring in the workplace, teacher-student interaction, and the mentoring potential of student advising programs. They also take a critical look at the importance of youth-adult relationships and how a deeper understanding of these relationships can benefit youth mentoring. This issue raises important questions about relationship-based interventions and generates new perspectives on the role of adults in the lives of youth. ... Read more

Product Description
Positive Sports shows the giving side of professional sports and how it leaves a lasting impact on our communities. Read about:
· Individuals who were inspired by sport: Canadian Football League player Garry Sawatzky shows how football changed his life from being a convicted murderer to becoming a strong member of the community.
· League-driven community programs: Hockey Canada’s Initiation Program instills a grassroots skills-first philosophy that leads to success at the international level.
· Professional sports role models: CFL Legend Mark McLoughlin fosters a Stay In School program and visits over 100 schools per year to talk about the importance of education. NHL goalie and Japanese-Canadian Jamie Storr holds an annual summer hockey school that celebrates pride in one’s heritage – something he was challenged with as a youth. NBA star Jalen Rose starts a foundation to support single parent families and assist children with their primary education. NHL good guy Jarome Iginla starts a hockey school through the NHL Diversity program and donates $1000 to KidSport Calgary for every goal he scores during a season. NBA forward Tyson Chandler helps pay gas bills for low-income Chicago families and partners with firefighters to fit homes with smoke detectors. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Reclaiming Children and Youth, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2006. The length of the article is 1623 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The power of social support: mentoring and resilience.(voices of youth)
Author: Angelique Day
Publication: Reclaiming Children and Youth (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 14Issue: 4Page: 196(3)

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Book Description
This digital document is an article from Presbyterian Record, published by Presbyterian Record on June 1, 2003. The length of the article is 955 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Mentoring youth, making disciples.
Author: Ivor Williams
Publication: Presbyterian Record (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2003
Publisher: Presbyterian Record
Volume: 127Issue: 6Page: 20(2)

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Product Description
SAFE was developed to help organizations to effectively screen applicants entering youth-serving activities such as mentoring, tutoring, and other endeavors. This book offers practical, field tested tools to prevent child predators from gaining access to children through service programs. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Reclaiming Children and Youth, published by Thomson Gale on June 22, 2004. The length of the article is 5981 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Unlocking hidden potential through mentoring.
Author: Ken W. McCluskey
Publication: Reclaiming Children and Youth (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 2004
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 13Issue: 2Page: 85(9)

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Book Description
This digital document is an article from Reclaiming Children and Youth, published by Thomson Gale on June 22, 2004. The length of the article is 6354 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Adults are still needed! Intergenerational and mentoring activities.
Author: Karen VanderVen
Publication: Reclaiming Children and Youth (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 2004
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 13Issue: 2Page: 94(9)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more