Assessment of role modeling and/or mentoring programs in the Knoxville metropolitan statistical area

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of mentoring and/or role modeling programs for inner-city youth in the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area. In the course of the research agencies, organizations, and groups in the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area who offered mentoring programs were identified. The programs they offered were examined to determine the criteria of mentor and protoge eligibility as well as the overall scope of the program. A questionnaire was developed using the Total Design Method (TDM) and validated with a jury of experts. The questionnaire was delivered via mail to 116 agencies, organizations, and groups identified by an additional jury of experts as offering mentoring programs in the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area. Those who did not respond before the deadline given, received the questionnaire again with a follow-up letter The Minitab Statistical Analysis computer program was used to analyze descriptive statistics and produce graphic representations of the data. WordPerfect 6.0 was used to develop the Figures to graphically represent the data. It was found that the majority of programs serve the Knox County area. Over half of the respondents indicated that they have been in existence for between 1 and 5 years. Most curriculums offered were available year around to the youths. All of the programs sought to improve the academics, behavior, and self-esteem of the youth involved. Slightly less than half of the programs used their own facilities. The most commonly given goal of the curriculum was to provide exposure to positive role models for the youth. Over one-half of the mentoring programs in the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area did not elist the help of expert counsel in developing their program curriculum. The majority of the respondents indicated that they will offer mentoring programs for five or more years. All of the programs served at least the 10 to 18 year old age group, and more than half served 26 to 50 youth. Slightly more than two-thirds of the programs served both boys and girls. The most commonly given criteria for eligibility for both youth and mentor, was an interest in participation. Less than 25% of the programs had organized recruiting plans for mentors. The top priority of responsibility for a mentor given was to be a significant presence in the life of the youth. Most of the programs relied on some supervision of the mentors by the director of the program. Only 4.2% of the programs relied solely on government funding, and most did not require a cost to the youth. The majority of the programs had a staff of 1 to 5 persons. In the course of this study, other areas of research have presented themselves. Additional research to provide more detailed information of the day to day operations of the mentoring programs to possibly provide a link between the larger, better funded programs to the smaller community programs may enhance the overall effects of mentoring programs in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Given the fact that the YMCA Black Achiever's Program is a first time program in the Knoxville Metropolitan area, it presents a unique opportunity to assess the effects of a mentoring program. A longitudinal study to identify and track the youth involved in the YMCA Black Achiever's Program may be developed. The information that could be obtained by this type of study might be used to not only improve the YMCA Black Achiever's Program, but other mentoring programs as well.