A mentor is a person who can support, advise and guide. Mentoring can help youth as they go through challenging life transitions, including dealing with stressful changes at home or transitioning to adulthood. 
Mentors act as role models and provide guidance to others to help them reach specific goals. A mentor can help you learn new skills, develop more confidence, and make better decisions.

Mentoring relationships typically have three important elements:
1.   A mentor has more experience than the mentee
2.  The mentor gives guidance that facilitates the growth of the mentee
3.  A strong emotional bond between the mentor and mentee is present, including the feeling of trust (DuBois and Karcher, 2005).

*Increased high school graduation rates and lower high school dropout rates
*Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices
*Better attitude about school
*Higher college enrollment rates and higher educational aspirations
*Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence
*Improved behavior, both at home and at school
*Stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers
*Improved interpersonal skills
*Decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use
(MENTOR, 2009; Cavell, DuBois, Karcher, Keller, & Rhodes, 2009)

Mentors act as role models and provide guidance to others to help them reach specific goals. A mentor can help you learn new skills, develop more confidence, and make better decisions.

Counseling is very problem-focused, meaning you seek specific advice and guidance from a counselor who is trained and licensed when you are experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression in your life.
(Spicer 2022)

Research tells us that mentoring matches are more successful when they last for at least one year in a community-based program and nine months in a school-based program. Mentoring programs will vary with matches required to meet anywhere from twice a week to twice a month. According to Michigan State University Extension, time spent together usually ranges from one to four hours per week. If matches adhere to successful guidelines then they will spend a lot of time together. (MSU Norrell-Aitch 2013)