NCJ Number
192635
Date Published
2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This evaluation focused on a mentoring program conducted in London, England for elementary school children with behavior problems and other risk factors.
Abstract
The CHANCE program began in 1996 in Islington, London, and is a community-based intervention program that provides trained mentors. The evaluation covered the period from March 1997 to March 2000. Evaluation data came from participation in program management committee meetings; regular contacts with the project team; interviews with managers, mentors, teachers who had referred children, mentored children, and mothers; and document reviews. Results revealed that those involved considered the project to be well managed. In addition, the program was effective in that trusting relationships developed and the children, their parents, and the mentors all reported some improvements after the mentoring period, particularly in the children’s development of confidence, self-control, and social awareness and relationships. However, a comparison group of children achieved equivalent improvements, and serious problems continued in both groups. The analysis concluded that mentoring may not be able to achieve significant improvements in general behavior in children with behavior problems within a year and that further support may also be needed to further developments of the solution-focused stage of mentoring. Findings also suggested the need for multiple interventions; the CHANCE program successfully developed parent support and child/peer programs alongside the child/mentor program during its second and third years. 1 reference