Reviewing a research article on youth mentoring in the USA by Jean E. Rhodes and David L. DuBois (Understanding and Facilitating the Youth Mentoring Movement. Jean E. Rhodes and David L. DuBois; Social Policy Report of the Society for Research in Child Development; Volume XX, Number 111; 2006), Joseph A Durlak, Loyola University Chicago writes:

 Your mentoring program is more likely to be effective if you:

 1.      Select mentors who have previous relevant experience in helping. Not everyone is a good mentor;

 2.      Require a long (at least 12 months) commitment from mentors;

 3.      Carefully train and support your mentors, and help structure their activities with their mentees;

 4.      Monitor program implementation. Anticipate that some things will go wrong; they usually do;

 5.      Involve parents as much as possible; and

 6.      Remember that if not done carefully, mentoring can harm participating youth! Evaluate your programs and be ready to change practices as needed.

- Joseph A. Durlak