When Families Are Involved
At Leadership Foundations, we believe no one walks alone, and that especially goes for the young people in our Mentoring Youth for Leadership (MYL) network.
Mentoring is at the heart of what we do and matters because it helps young people see their full potential—not just in themselves, but in the world around them. We believe in using our cities as playgrounds for growth, connection, and possibility. With mentors by their side and families engaged in the journey, youth begin to see their city as a place where they belong, where they can lead, and where their dreams are not only welcome, but achievable.
Surrounding every mentee is a circle of existing care: a parent, caregiver, family friend, or relative who shows up, protects, and pours into them with love. A mentor doesn’t replace the role of family but walks alongside it, helping strengthen that circle of support. Together with families, mentors help young people discover their voice, navigate challenges, and grow into confident, capable leaders.
Family Engagement
Family engagement strengthens mentoring- it is the intentional ongoing collaboration between the program, mentors, and the families of mentees to support the youth’s development and well-being–while incorporating supportive services for the entire family as needed.
- Family Support = offering services to help families meet practical needs.
- Family Engagement = building an ongoing partnership between mentors, families and programs to support youth and connect with community resources together.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our networks, it was families who helped shape how our mentoring models responded and adapted. As many programs paused operations and mentors couldn’t meet in person, our MYL sites leaned in, adapted and navigated pathways to continuing prioritizing connections over convenience.
- 97% of MYL sites reported increased family engagement during the pandemic.
- Mentors helped deliver food, clothing and household goods.
- Sites provided supplemental academic materials to fill learning gaps.
- Programs served as lifelines connecting families to health care, housing support and mental health services.
These crisis-driven strategies quickly sprouted into acts and movements of solidarity– becoming a long-term commitment and reshaping how our network participates in family engagement.
Four Pillars of Family Engagement in the MYL Network
At the heart of our approach to family engagement are four themes that shape our vision and practice. These themes influence how we build trust, strengthen partnerships, empower youth leadership and create spaces where families feel seen and supported. They also serve as the foundation of positive youth development, helping young people grow into competent, confident, caring and connected leaders with good character.
- Communication: The Foundation of Engagement
- Effective and consistent communication is vital for sustaining family engagement in mentoring programs. Clear communication ensures that families are informed, involved and empowered to support their children’s mentoring relationships.
- Welcome families with humility and curiosity.
- Check-in regularly.
- Utilize a variety of communication methods that mentees and their families can navigate.
- Empower families and mentees to build community with others.
- Effective and consistent communication is vital for sustaining family engagement in mentoring programs. Clear communication ensures that families are informed, involved and empowered to support their children’s mentoring relationships.
- Consistent Family Engagement
- Family engagement us not a one-time activity but an ongoing process that should be woven into every stage of the mentoring relationship. From the initial stages of mentor-mentee matching to celebrating milestones, families play a vital role in ensuring the success and sustainability of the program.
- Initiate communication with families.
- Respect the experience and input of families.
- Visit families where they are routinely to build a relationship of trust.
- Include families in programming such as award ceremonies or joint events to foster a sense of belonging.
- Family engagement us not a one-time activity but an ongoing process that should be woven into every stage of the mentoring relationship. From the initial stages of mentor-mentee matching to celebrating milestones, families play a vital role in ensuring the success and sustainability of the program.
- Responding to Challenge With Creativity
- Mentoring programs often face limitations such as resource constraints or unforeseen challenges. Embracing creativity allows these programs to adapt and continue providing meaningful engagement opportunities for families.
- Construct an ongoing analysis of challenges, opportunities and effectiveness into programming.
- Incorporate voices of families and mentees into crafting solutions to meet their needs.
- Filter solutions through the lens of the program’s vision and mission.
- Mentoring programs often face limitations such as resource constraints or unforeseen challenges. Embracing creativity allows these programs to adapt and continue providing meaningful engagement opportunities for families.
- Families as Co-Creators
- Caregivers are recognized as invaluable co-creators in the mentoring process, bringing unique expertise about their children’s needs, strengths and experiences. This partnership ensures that programs are tailored and responsive, empowering families to play an active role in shaping outcomes.
- Treat families and caregivers as partners rather than participants.
- Set goals with families to help ensure the goals align with the mentee’s strengths, needs, and aspirations.
- Actively seek and involve families in program design and ongoing adjustments.
- Tailor mentoring activities that build on the strengths of children as identified by their families.
- Identify trusted adults’ skills and assets, and foster opportunities for them to use those within the program.
- Caregivers are recognized as invaluable co-creators in the mentoring process, bringing unique expertise about their children’s needs, strengths and experiences. This partnership ensures that programs are tailored and responsive, empowering families to play an active role in shaping outcomes.
Join The Network
Family engagement is an indispensable asset for the mentoring field. By prioritizing robust communication, embedding engagement throughout the mentoring life cycle, fostering creativity and involving caregivers as collaborative partners, programs can create a supportive environment that empowers mentees and their families. The Leadership Foundations Mentoring Network adopts these themes to not only strengthen individual relationships but also build resilient communities that thrive together.
To invest in mentoring and family engagement efforts that transform lives and whole communities, visit leadershipfoundations.org/donate.
