Junior Senior Friends

Mentor One Child…Enrich Two Lives

The Junior Senior Friends Youth Mentoring Program serves youth in communities within Merrimack County. Volunteers are recruited, screened, and trained to become mentors to school-age youth.

What is a mentor?

Mentors or “Senior Friends” are caring, trusted volunteers who provide friendship and support to “Junior Friends” Mentors, age 16 and older, help develop the characteristics and capabilities of a young person in a fun and meaningful way through a weekly commitment of time.

Who are the youth?

Youth or “Junior Friends” are girls and boys, who range in age from 6-18 and are referred by parents, educators, and others. They thrive on the one-on-one attention provided by mentors and learn and grow by experiencing life beyond what they are exposed to at home and school.

What the research says…

Research consistently shows that a key difference between successful and unsuccessful youth from lower-income communities is mentoring. A review of more than 200 research studies concluded that, in order to successfully pass through adolescence, youth need access to safe places, challenging experiences, and caring people on a daily basis. Mentors provide these 3 key elements and improve self-esteem, serve as role models, and advocates.

Why get involved?

Our program maintains a waiting list of over 50 youth waiting for a mentor! The impact of mentoring can be life-changing; the most scientifically rigorous study to date has demonstrated that youth in programs like the Junior Senior Friends Youth Mentoring Program are:

• 46% less likely to use drugs than the control group
• mentored youth were 1/3rd less likely to hit someone
• mentored youth skipped half as many days of school
• mentored youth were 27% less likely to initiate alcohol use
• the quality of the mentored youths’ relationships with their parents was better than youth in the control group