Session: Developing a Model for Delivering School-Based Mentoring: Military Student Mentoring (Society for Prevention Research 24th Annual Meeting)

The goal of this poster forum is to present an innovative approach for developing a model by which schools can provide supportive, school-based mentoring to military-connected students in the elementary years. Researchers from the University of Arkansas, Boston University, and New York University are working in partnership with Mentoring Works Washington and Carla Herrera, PhD, to develop and test this model. The intervention, Military Student Mentoring,creates a model for service delivery that can be used by schools to serve a range of student populations. This intervention is funded by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). This forum supports the conference theme of Development and Testing Interventions and Innovative Methods and Statistics. The forum brings together researchers from a diverse set of institutions who have actively been pursuing research in mentoring, school-based interventions, and military families.

The first poster, “ Military Student Mentoring: Project Overview” provides a synopsis of the development of a strategic model for school-based mentoring that is coordinated by school districts and implemented by local elementary schools. School districts will be able to use this model to support students whose families serve in our country’s military. 

The second poster, “Keeping it Safe and Fun: Parent Perspectives on School-Based Mentoring for Military-Connected Youth” illustrates military-connected parent’s concerns and views about school-based mentoring for their youth. Focus group data revealed several emerging themes, which will be discussed further. Findings shed light on the needs and interests of parents and the influence of those in their involvement and consideration of mentoring for their children.

The third poster, “Mentoring Military-Connected Youth: A Survey of Program Practices” describes how mentoring programs across the United States have adapted practices to serve military-connected youth.  Quantitative and qualitative findings from this national survey revealed challenges and successes in their efforts to provide services to military-connected families.

The fourth poster, “ Identifying and Describing School-Based Support for Military-Connected Youth: Who and How?” describes the identification of school districts who are actively supporting and serving military-connected youth in the elementary grades. School districts’ characteristics, types of support provided, strengths and challenges, level of knowledge about their military-connected students, efforts to support military students and parents, and views about their practices are examined.

The fifth poster, “Launching MSM: Year 2 Feasibility Findings” presents preliminary findings on the feasibility and usability of the MSM program. Data on the feasibility and usability of this program was obtained from many individuals such as those implementing and those participating in it. These findings will be used to improve the program.

At the conclusion of the presentations, the discussant will make summary statements and moderate a discussion. It is expected that this innovative approach for developing a mentoring model for military-connected youth will be appealing to the SPR Annual Meeting participants.