Mentoring is an ongoing one-to-one relationship between an adult
and a student who needs support to achieve academic, career,
social and/or personal goals. Mentoring programs are operated by
schools, community organizations, businesses, religious
organizations, professional groups, colleges and various levels
of government. They provide students avenues for exploring
education and career paths, stronger incentives for staying in
school and increased confidence to succeed. Although no two
mentoring programs are exactly alike, many experts agree that
they need a common set of strong elements: (1) carefully
screened volunteers, (2) training for mentors, (3) procedures
for matching mentors to students and (4) case-managed support
and supervision. In the United States, parents are the central
source of emotional, financial and social support for their
children. Many young people also are fortunate to be part of
larger networks, including grandparents, other relatives,
neighbors, and community and religious organiz