Sources of Information on Mentor Programs

Following are organizations that provide information and assistance, or conduct research, on mentor programs:

America’s Promise, 909 North Washington Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, Va. 22314; (703) 684-4500; http://www.americaspromise.org A national non-profit group led by Gen. Colin Powell, charged with carrying out goals of the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future, including recruiting two million adults to serve as mentors by the end of 2000.

The Mentoring Center,1221 Preservation Park Way, Suite 100, Oakland, Cal. 94612-1216; (510) 891-0427. Non-profit clearinghouse that provides information and training for groups that want to start mentor programs. Organizes annual Bay Area Mentoring Conference.

One to One/the National Mentoring Partnership, 2801 M Street, N.W., Washington 20007; (202) 338-3844; http://www.mentoring.org A national charity that is working to expand mentor programs nationwide. Provides written material and other tools, and conducts workshops on how to start mentor programs; trains mentors. In addition to the national office, there are more than a dozen local chapters in cities across the country.

Public/Private Ventures, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 900, Philadelphia 19103; (215) 557-4400; http://tap.epn.org/ppv A social-policy research organization that studies mentor programs. Has published four reports stemming from a study of Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs: A Study of Program Practices (1993; $6); A Study of Volunteer Recruitment and Screening (1994; $6); Building Relationships with Youth in Program Settings (1995; $7.50); Making a Difference: An Impact Study (1995; $7.50).

Search Institute, Thresher Square West, 700 South Third Street, Suite 210, Minneapolis 55415; (612) 376-8955; (800) 888-7828; http://www.search-institute.org Non-profit research organization that conducts studies of children and adolescents; evaluates programs and policies that affect children; provides products, training, other services to groups that work with children. Offers a publication called Understanding Mentoring Relationships (1992; $8).