Mentoring Brings Inspiration and Community Directly to Youth Who Need It Most

Building positive relationships is an essential part of every individual’s growth and development. Positive relationships allow us to have an exchange of open and honest communication, operate in an environment where we feel connected, safe, and share interests and values that are important to us. These relationships also teach us how to trust others, which opens up the door for support.

At the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (RHY) in the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), we understand the importance of building and retaining positive relationships, and we reinforce these relationships through Positive Youth Development (PYD). PYD is a comprehensive framework that outlines the key components of what all youth need to be successful. We often think of it as an equation: Positive Experiences + Positive Relationships + Positive Environment = Positive Youth Development. This framework suggests that positive relationships are as essential to young people’s development as positive experiences and environments, which collectively guides youth towards leadership opportunities, sustainable living, and contributes to their overall well-being.

The RHY program helps young people build and retain consistent positive relationships by promoting mentorship. Mentors are caring adults who serve as role models and provide guidance and support while allowing youth to make their own life decisions. According to youth.gov , mentorship can promote better relationship and lifestyle choices, better attitudes about school, enhanced self-esteem and confidence, improved behavior (both at home and at school), and improved interpersonal skills for young people.

Connections Through Mentorship

FYSB funds organizations that serve and support runaway and homeless youth. One such grantee, Connections for the Homeless in Evanston, Illinois, boasts an exemplary mentorship program. Every Wednesday, Mary Pat, a volunteer at Connections for the Homeless, comes to the agency’s facility to cook and eat dinner with the six male residents. During this time, Mary Pat encourages the boys to share their interests, connect, and guide each other. During each weekly dinner, Mary Pat allows the boys to plan next week’s meal, and they do so with excitement for Mary Pat’s return.

“Mary Pat has developed a special bond with our residents, and her consistency plays a huge role in that,” says Thalma Brooms, Youth Programs Manager for Connections for the Homeless. “Her weekly presence helps residents build trust with her, and in turn, helps model what a healthy, supportive relationship looks like.”

The agency also feels that Mary Pat’s presence creates a space that is therapeutic and allows for their youth to express their vulnerabilities. As a result, they remain engaged in this weekly tradition, attending meetings even if it means rearranging their schedules.

To measure their success with youth, Connections for the Homeless performs a quarterly survey of their young people, including questions about relationships and social connections. Youth have documented growth in those areas, and the agency is certain that Mary Pat’s involvement has influenced these results.

Thank you, Connections for the Homeless, for your dedication to enhancing the lives of our youth!

To become a mentor to homeless youth, contact a FYSB-funded RHY program in your area.

Don’t forget, November is National Runaway Prevention Month! Join FYSB for a month of awareness-raising and commemorative events, and learn how you can get involved.