Does mentoring work? An impact study of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program

Our random assignment evaluation found that this type of mentoring had a significant positive effect on youths ages 10 to 16. Over the 18-month follow-up period youths participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters Programs were significantly less likely to have started using illegal drugs or alcohol, hit someone, or skipped school. They were also more confident about their school performance and got along better with their families. Mentors were carefully screened, trained, and matched with a youth whom they met, on average, three or four times a month for approximately a year The program also provides careful professional supervision of these matches.