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Mentoring Gap

According to Mentoring in America: A Snapshot of the Current State of Mentoring a study conducted by MENTOR/The National Mentoring Partnership, it is estimated that 17.6 million young people could especially benefit from having a mentor, but only 2.5 million are in formal, one-to-one mentoring relationships. This leaves over 15 million young people seeking a mentor. State partnerships like Virginia Mentoring Partnership work in conjunction with MENTOR to close that "mentoring gap."

Mentoring Gap in Virginia

Based on certain life circumstances, estimates suggest that approximately 150,000 young people in Virginia could benefit from spending time with a caring adult mentor.

Of the 1,738,262 young people under age 18 in Virginia*:

• 1 out of 10 lives in a high-poverty neighborhood
• 1 out of 5 teens between ages 16-19 are not enrolled in school
• 1 out of 16 children receives TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)
• 1 out of 26 children is born to teen parents

This data indicates that many of our young people, nearly 8%, live in situations where they may need additional guidance and support in order to succeed.

Where we are today

A 2005 VMP survey of over 600 schools, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and faith-based groups in Virginia, indicated that only 20,000 Virginia young people were in formal, mentoring relationships.

This leaves 130,000 to 140,000 young people in Virginia still waiting for a mentor.

With your help, Virginia Mentoring Partnership can close the mentoring gap in Virginia, by encouraging more adults to become mentors, supporting existing mentors and programs, and fostering new mentoring initiatives. Together, we can change lives.

*From The Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDSCount Data Book