The Mentoring Factor

Abstract Across Ages is a comprehensive, intergenerational mentoring program designed to reduce adolescent drug abuse and to help older adults (55+) maintain active roles in their communities. For an outcome evaluation, students in classrooms from Philadelphia public schools were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: A curriculum and community service condition (Program Group), a curriculum, service, and mentoring condition (Mentoring Group), or a Control Group. Eight modified scales and three original scales were completed by 562 students in a pretest and posttest design. Results suggest that the Program Group participants, as compared to the Control Group participants, showed significant improvement in their sense of well-being, knowledge about elders, reactions to situations involving drug use, and attitudes toward community service. Participants in the Mentoring Group also improved in their attitudes toward school, the future, and elders. Implications for further research and practical considerations for program replication are discussed.