The focus of this research is an innovative community-based intervention that combines mentoring with self-esteem enhancement and health education/promotion strategies to prevent mental health problems and health-compromising behaviors among urban, minority young adolescent girls (ages 10-14). The intervention model, developed by Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BB/BS) of Metropolitan Chicago, involves combining traditional one-on-one mentoring with the joint participation of mentors and youth in an extended series of workshops that use experiential learning and skill-building activities to strengthen self-esteem and promote positive health behavior. The overall aim of the research is to prepare for conducting a full-scale efficacy trial of the intervention. Specific objectives are: (1) to develop and pilot research-based innovations to the core intervention model; (2) to standardize intervention materials and the evaluation protocol; and (3) to conduct a small-scale piloting and feasibility study. Innovations to the program will be developed in four areas: (1) self-esteem building strategies (i.e., enhancement of multidimensional self-esteem; coping with prejudice and discrimination); (2) health education/promotion activities (workshops on specific health behaviors: substance use, sexuality, diet/nutrition and exercise); (3) procedures to facilitate generalization of workshop experiences (between-session assignments; resource materials for mentors, youth, and parents/guardians; group reunions); and (4) a """"""""built in"""""""" evaluation component (monitoring of program implementation by staff and mentors; assessment of participating youths' self-esteem and health knowledge/attitudes). In the piloting and feasibility study, a sample of 40 youth will be assigned randomly to receive either the intervention (i.e., mentoring and workshops) or traditional mentoring through the same host agency (i.e., BB/BS of Metropolitan Chicago). The chief goals of the study will be to pilot and further refine the intervention protocol and measures; assess feasibility of procedures for implementing and evaluating the intervention in a controlled outcome study (i.e., participant and mentor recruitment, randomized assignment, measurement and data collection methods); gather data to estimate intervention parameters (i.e., effect size, attrition rates, response rates); and perform preliminary analyses of program effects on outcomes as well as potential mediators and moderators of effects.
| Keller, Thomas E; Overton, Bahia; Pryce, Julia M et al. (2018) ""I really wanted her to have a Big Sister"": Caregiver perspectives on mentoring for early adolescent girls. Child Youth Serv Rev 88:308-315 |
