What type of program involves adult volunteers spending time with at-risk youths while providing support and encouragement?

The choice of a mentoring program is highly relevant in the context of providing support and encouragement to at-risk youths. Mentoring programs are designed to create positive relationships between adult volunteers and young individuals who may be facing various challenges. In such programs, mentors act as role models, offering guidance, emotional support, and companionship, which can significantly affect the personal development and decision-making abilities of the youths involved.

These mentoring interactions help young people to build confidence, establish goals, and enhance their social skills. By having a consistent and supportive figure in their lives, at-risk youths may be inspired to pursue educational and personal ambitions that they might otherwise overlook. This relationship can bridge gaps that some youths experience due to adverse environments, fostering resilience and ambition.

While community service, dropout prevention, and after-school programs serve important functions in supporting youths, they do not focus primarily on the one-on-one, personal engagement that defines mentoring programs. Community service programs may provide valuable opportunities for giving back but do not entail the personal developmental support that mentoring does. Dropout prevention programs focus specifically on educational retention, and while these can provide essential resources, they do not center around personal encouragement from trained mentors. After-school programs offer a structured environment for learning and activities; however, they lack the