How Mentoring Works

 

Impact

The Need
In 2009 less than one third of San Francisco secondary school students scored high on supportive school environmental factors such as caring adult relationships and opportunities for meaningful participation.

Additionally:

• 7.7% of San Francisco Unified School District's (SFUSD) students are chronically or habitually truant
• at 21%, San Francisco's high school drop-out rate exceeds that of other counties in our region
• African American and Latino students are over-represented in truancy, suspension, and drop-out data

Break down of Mentoring For Success participants by race/ethnicity

Mentoring For Success Impact

• Improved success in school
  40% of students improved their academic performance
  86% said that their mentor helps them do better in school
  "I am doing better in school because of my mentor."
• Improved Attendance
  48% of students decreased their number of unexcused absences
  "It feels safe, and it is nice to have someone to have fun with."
• Caring Relationships
  77% of matches were sustained for a full 12 months
  85% expressed that they like to meet with their mentor
  "They are dependable and can help you with school work."

 

Compared to 7th grader reports on 2009 California Healthy Kids Survey, the middle school Mentoring For Success results are very positive. Students in our program experienced an increase in the level of support from a caring adult at school.

Program Growth
With new programs being launched every school year the support to additional youth continues to grow. During the preceding three years the number of students matched with a mentor at secondary schools has increased four-fold.

Research Base*
Mentoring For Success is a research based program built on the well-known successes of The National Mentoring Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

School-based mentoring programs...

• Reduce school absences
• Improve overall academic performance
• Increase college participation
• Improve attitudes and behavior in relation to school
• Reduce drug and alcohol use (especially among minority youth)
• Reduce likelihood of hitting others
• Reduce likelihood of committing misdemeanors or felonies
• Enhance positive attitude toward elders and toward helping
• Improve parental relationships and support from peers