Mentoring Youth in Care

Background:

The Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research (the Centre) was established to support and disseminate research knowledge and evidence on policy issues related to improving the well-being and health of children and youth. The Centre is seen as an innovative leader in the development and dissemination of policy relevant evidence.

The Child and Youth in Care and Mentoring Subcommittee of the Alberta Mentoring Partnership wanted to consult research literature regarding mentoring children and youth in care. The Centre provided assistance in summarizing the literature on and interviewing contacts with experience in mentoring children and youth in care in the Canadian context.

For a more general review on mentoring please see:

Vandenberghe, C. (2013). Mentoring: A Review of the Literature. Calgary, AB: Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research for Alberta’s Promise available at www.albertaspromise.org

Recommended Citation:

Vandenberghe, C. (2014). Mentoring Youth in Care. Calgary, AB: Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research for the Child and Youth in Care and Mentoring Subcommittee of the Alberta Mentoring Partnership.

Acknowledgements:

The author would like to thank Michelle Anderson-Draper, Provincial Coordinator, Dayna Hobbs, the key contact for the Northern region and Amber Moos, Youth Representative to the Children and Youth in Care and Mentoring Subcommittee, of the Alberta Mentoring Partnership who assisted in identifying relevant literature and providing feedback on this review.

Additional thanks to interviewees:

Ada Nanning, Hull Services

Brian Zelt, Hull Services

Viki Panos, Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area

Eric Storey, Mentor

Joelle Lewis, Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada

Melissa Gee, Alberta Foster Parent Association

Ellie Boyenko, Big Brothers Big Sisters Saskatoon and Area

And focus group participants (facilitated by Michelle Anderson-Draper and Amber Moos):

Mentors and Mentees of the Youth in Care Program at Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area

who were interviewed about mentoring youth in care within the Canadian context.

Keywords:

mentor, Alberta, children, youth, care, child intervention, foster care