Mentors steer at-risk teens away from trouble and toward success

This study tests a 9-month mentoring program for 8th and 9th graders who have experienced child abuse or neglect and are involved with child welfare. The program pairs teens with trained graduate student mentors who help them set goals in relationships, education, activities, career, and health. The goal is to prevent problems like delinquency, substance use, and school failure, and to promote positive development. The study includes 234 teens, with half receiving the mentoring and half in a control group.