A new report concludes that an improved version of the school-based mentoring program run by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is turning out to be more successful than the organization’s earlier model.
The group implemented an enhanced school-based mentoring model in 23 locations around the country after a 2007 study found that the original program’s mentor-student matches were shorter and less effective than those in its community-based programs.
In its new report, the organization says that encouraging longer-term partnerships and one-on-one interactions, providing more support, and generally making the school-based program more similar to the community-based program led to longer matches and more positive social, emotional, and academic outcomes for participants.
