The Power of Mentoring: How It Positively Shapes Children’s Lives

January is National Mentoring Month, highlighting the critical role mentors play in helping youth thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. One of our areas of focus at United Way of Lake County is "Youth Opportunity," and we proudly help fund our Agency Partner, Torchlight Youth Mentoring Alliance because its evidence-based mentoring programs create lasting, positive outcomes for children.

Mentoring plays a powerful role in helping children and teens grow into confident, capable, and resilient adults. Research consistently shows that having a caring, supportive mentor can significantly improve a child’s academic success, emotional well-being, and long-term life outcomes—while also helping them avoid serious risks.

One of the strongest benefits of mentoring is its impact on education. Studies show that young people with mentors are 52% less likely to skip school and demonstrate higher levels of school engagement. Youth from underserved backgrounds who have mentors are also 55% more likely to enroll in college than those without one. Overall, mentored youth perform about 9 percentile points higher than their peers across academic, behavioral, and social measures.

Mentoring also supports mental and emotional health. Children with mentors report higher self-esteem, better emotional regulation, and a stronger sense of belonging. Research links mentoring to lower rates of depression and anxiety, particularly for youth facing stress, trauma, or instability at home. Long-term effects matter too: nearly 75% of adults who had a mentor growing up say that relationship played a key role in their later success.

Beyond academics and mental health, mentoring helps children build social and life skills. Mentored youth are more likely to develop positive relationships, practice healthy communication, and take on leadership roles—some studies show they are over twice as likely to become leaders later in life.

Just as importantly, mentoring helps protect children from negative outcomes. Youth with mentors are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior, substance use, or aggression. Research also shows reduced rates of school misconduct, truancy, and early drug or alcohol use among mentored children. Mentoring acts as a protective factor, helping young people make safer choices and cope with challenges before they escalate.

While mentoring is not a cure-all for systemic issues like poverty, its benefits are clear. When relationships are consistent, long-lasting, and supportive, mentoring can change the trajectory of a child’s life—offering guidance, stability, and hope during critical developmental years.

In short, mentoring doesn’t just help children succeed—it helps them avoid falling through the cracks. 

United is the way to youth opportunity.

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