Factors of mentor attrition from an after-school community-based mentoring program

This qualitative case study explores factors of mentor attrition from the perspective of 11 former mentors all of whom prematurely exited a community-based mentoring programme serving low-income African American girls. Themes of scheduling conflicts, lack of programme structure, disconnection from the mentoring organisation, and loss of relationship emerged to describe the process of withdrawal and associated distress of termination. Recommendations for strategies to promote mentor retention are addressed.