Reflections on Research

Reflections on Research

Developed by MENTOR through the National Mentoring Resource Center project, the Reflections on Research podcast offers practitioners, policymakers, and leaders in youth mentoring a fun and accessible way to learn about the latest research and reflect on the practical applications of new research to their work. Listeners will hear directly from the research community in a conversational space as leading scholars discuss their findings and the implications of their work with young people.

Episodes

November 19, 2020 52 mins
Over the last few decades, the Search Institute has been leading the way in our understanding of both the assets youth need to thrive and the supportive, developmental relationships they need with adults in order to reach their potential. This episode features a lively discussion with Drs. Amy Syversten and Cecilia Saddler, who share findings from key new research into developmental relationships and discuss their work to apply tho...
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In this episode, Dr. Michelle Kaufman of Johns Hopkins University joins us to discuss e-mentoring research and practice. As the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down schools and youth-serving programs, leaders have increasingly turned to technology-delivered mentoring interactions, while also recognizing that these digital tools also hold great promise for non-crisis application, as well. Join us as Dr. Kaufman talks about what we know a...
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In this episode, NMRC Research Board member Dr. Julia Pryce of Loyola (Chicago) discusses her research on the concept of mentor-youth “attunement” and why mentors and staff need to emphasize reading youth cues in order to strengthen the relationship and make the mentoring experience more enjoyable and stress-free for all participants.
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Julia Freeland Fisher of the Christensen Institute joins the show to talk about her recent book, Who You Know: Unlocking Innovations That Expand Students' Networks. We discuss research on how "weak tie" relationships with adults support youth in the pursuit of their goals, how educational institutions can reform their structures to provide more networking connections and enhanced learning for students, and the role that technology ...
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In this episode, Drs. Gizem Erdem and Michelle Kaufman join us to discuss their recent research summary on mentoring and substance misuse, exploring how adult mentors can support young people who have been impacted by substance misuse in the home or who are struggling with addiction issues themselves. We review the ways in which mentors can be part of prevention and treatment, with a special emphasis on the opioid crisis.
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Dr. David DuBois is joined by program leader Elizabeth Higley to discuss their recent evaluation of the Great Life Mentoring program, which provides mentoring services for youth who are receiving clinical mental health services. This interview offers both practitioner and researcher insights into how this program is able to utilize volunteer mentors in conjunction with clinical services and details a number of positive outcomes tha...
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Dr. Michael Karcher of the University of Texas-San Antonio joins us for a discussion about his recent evaluation of the Youth Advocates Program and their positive results around youth recidivism. We also discuss his long career in research and the ways in which he feels mentors can best transform youth and help them feel seen and valued. (52 min.)
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In part two of our interview with Liz Raposa and Jean Rhodes, We go deeper into the possible directions for the mentoring field based on the findings of their meta-analysis and other factors. They make a compelling case for training mentors to be effective delivery systems for evidence-based interventions, although that shift might result in major changes for the mentoring field and how volunteers spend their time. Anyone intereste...
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This episode is part 1 of our interview with Elizabeth Raposa and Jean Rhodes about their recent meta-analysis of youth mentoring programs (and more). Their groundbreaking study examined the overall effectiveness of one-to-one mentoring programs for youth, as well as the activities and circumstances that influence that effectiveness. This discussion should interest funders and policymakers in addition to program leaders.
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In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Sam McQuillin of the University of South Carolina to discuss his innovative research on short-term school-based mentoring, as well as his thoughts on how we can improve the mentoring that happens in schools and the concept of enlisting mentors to offer more meaningful support to youth with mental health and other challenges. Sam is one of the most innovative thought leaders in the mentoring mov...
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In this episode, we talk about a major new group mentoring study with Dr. Gabe Kuperminc, including the impacts of group mentoring on middle school students, the importance of managing group dynamics in in these programs, and strategies for improving the individual and collective outcomes of school-based group mentoring programs.
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Two leading scholars in the mentoring field join us to discuss their new Study to Analyze Relationships (STAR), which offers great insights into the interpersonal dynamics of mentoring matches, gaps in match closure procedures, and the practices that may prevent early match termination. We end with a great discussion about the gap between the expectations and reality of the experience of mentoring a child.
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Drs. Jennifer Blakeslee and Tom Keller of Portland State University join the podcast to discuss their findings from their follow-up study with mentees from the My Life program, which serves youth aging out of foster care with a self-determination approach to their entry into young adulthood.
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October 30, 2018 56 mins
Nancy joins us to break down several studies of the Young Women Leaders Program, an innovative blend of group and one-on-one mentoring, including recent findings that indicate lasting impacts for girls on key outcomes. Recorded as part of our work on the National Mentoring Resource Center for OJJDP.
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October 30, 2018 49 mins
We discuss key findings from his team’s study of mentoring services for youth on parole and probation in Ohio and learn about how the youth mentoring field aligns, and sometimes doesn’t, with the broader research on what prevents criminality and recidivism. Recorded as part of our work on the National Mentoring Resource Center for OJJDP.
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Interview with David DuBois and Carla Herrera about their recent long-term follow-up with youth who were mentored in the 1990s to see how they are now doing as adults. Great information about the long-term value of mentoring in the formative years. Recorded as part of our work on the National Mentoring Resource Center for OJJDP.
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