by Maxine Womble
Director, MRC
Over the past ten years a small but growing cadre of professionals in the field of prevention has been promoting the notion that prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among young people involves much more than just educating them about the negative consequences of using substances. Prevention must look at the diverse needs of the individual and, therefore, the approaches used must be comprehensive, embracing multiple strategies and activities that are focused on developing youth from social, physical, and psychological, as well as educational, perspectives. If young people are offered alternative opportunities to grow and develop into productive citizens, they will be less inclined to engage in negative behaviors.
Comprehensive approaches help young people to deal more effectively with the multitude of challenges they face daily in their home, school, and neighborhood environments - places that are not always conducive to healthy, happy, and safe living. A significant component of any effective prevention program is the involvement of adults who can provide positive support and guidance for young people. Mentoring, coaching, big brother/sister programs, and role modeling are all avenues that can be extremely helpful. The sustained involvement of a positive adult figure is a missing link for far too many young people. In some communities youth are influenced by adults who are themselves involved in negative situations - drug pushers, for example, often spend time with young people, giving them attention, money, and material goods that their parents cannot afford. To make matters worse, these negative forces are frequently admired because of their status and power in the community.
There is, therefore, a critical need for positive adults who can commit to mentoring young people. The commitment should not be undertaken just because all of one's friends are working with underprivileged youth. It can be devastating to a young person to get "dumped" by an adult whose interest in mentoring lasted as long as the fad. Adults should devote themselves to young people only if they have sufficient time and emotional endurance to stay for a while. The mentor-youth relationship must be viewed as a long-term commitment.
A review of research on mentoring programs indicates that the bonding of two individuals provides an opportunity for an intergenerational transfer of knowledge and experience, which can be extremely helpful to young people. Mentors can also help to reinforce or establish high expectations, promote learning skills development, improve self-image, and set goals. In short, mentors can help young people to "be all they can be." A positive adult role model who is available to a young person on an ongoing basis can inspire hope of not only reaching adulthood, but actually changing his/her condition for the better. Far too many young people believe that they will die an early death and that graduating from high school is beyond their reach. These same young people may be part of an overburdened educational system that has been overwhelmed by the challenge of trying to provide a quality education to students.
Over the years we have seen how important mentoring is to the professional development of adults in the workplace. For example, new employees quickly advance when a senior staff person in the organization provides "mentorship." The mentor guides the person through the culture of the agency. The mentor takes responsibility for the new employee. For some groups of people, however, access to mentors is not often readily available. Women and people of color in particular don't often have the opportunity for such support systems. Women in business are usually concerned about reaching the "glass ceiling." However, barriers to advancement, such as racism and sexism, could arguably be overcome with the help of a mentor. Young people also have barriers, glass ceilings, that obstruct them from becoming all that they can be. Adult mentors must provide leadership and guidance to help youth maneuver through these challenges of life.
Adults who would like to get involved but fear they don't know how to relate to teenagers can receive training to boost their skills. There are several excellent programs that provide training for volunteers.
The future requires that we take seriously the concept that each one must help one.
Copyright © 1995:
Midwest Regional Center for
Drug-Free Schools & Communities
North Central
Regional Educational Laboratory
Contact:info@ncrel.org
Posted on March 27, 1995
URL: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/sa/4-1ment.htm