PHOENIX — Youth mentorship programs can have a hugely positive impact on Arizona kids, according to leaders of a local nonprofit that pairs adults with kids in need of guidance.
This belief stems from a study that uses 30 years of data, according to Steve Conrad, the vice president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona (BBBSAZ).
“The data here clearly shows that connecting young people with caring mentors doesn’t just transform individual lives,” Conrad told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday. “It’s one of the most cost-effective investments we can make in Arizona’s future.”
What does data say about benefit of youth mentorship programs?
The data is based on a 30-year research project conducted by researchers from Harvard University and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The study followed children who participated in the mentorship program, as well as those from similar backgrounds who did not.
It found that children who participate in BBBSAZ, which places youths with adult mentors for one hour a week, are 20% more likely to enroll in college.
“They’ll go to games together, they’ll just go to an arcade, they’ll go throw a football around, whatever it is,” Conrad said.
Kids involved with BBBSAZ also earn 15% more over their lifetime, according to the data.
How does BBBSAZ compare to other Arizona youth mentorship programs?
“It’s really just having someone to spend some more time with. So, it’s not just idle time, you know, at home or playing video games or being left alone,” he said.
BBBSAZ has served more than 40,000 kids in the mentorship program since 1955, with more than 1,200 signed up this year. It also partners with nonprofits like UMOM to reach children who may not have access to support programs.
The data also indicated that the youth mentorship program may help reduce socioeconomic disparities and lower a child or teen’s likelihood of engaging in illegal drug or alcohol use.
Adults who want to step up and become a mentor can apply online.
Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.
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