NCJ Number
207921
Date Published
2003
Length
61 pages
Annotation
This resource guide is for adults who work with youth to develop and maintain effective partnerships that aim to reduce youths' tobacco use.
Abstract
Although the guide focuses on mentor and mentee relationships, the lessons are appropriate for a broad range of partnerships between youth and adults. The resources and activities presented in this guide address five topics. One of the topics is positive youth development, which is the objective of effective adult partnerships with youth. The guide identifies the characteristics of positive youth development and indicates why they are important. A second topic is adult partnerships with youth. Such partnerships are important contributors to positive development in youth. The guide describes the forms that adult partnerships can take and indicates why mentoring is so important in today's partnerships between adults and youth. A third topic is the characteristics that make adult partnerships work for youth. The guide indicates what distinguishes effective partnerships from less effective ones and suggests how adults can make a difference in the life of a child. A fourth topic is the benefits that youth receive from partnerships with adults. The skills and benefits the partnership brings to a child are discussed. The fifth topic concerns how youth and adult partnerships can reduce/prevent the youth's tobacco use. The guide suggests specific ways in which adult partners can support a youth's choice not to use tobacco. For each of these topics, the guide provides a brief discussion of the topic; identifies findings from the latest research on the topic; and suggests implications for action. The final section presents some practical tobacco-specific exercises and resources that adults can use in working with their young partners. Appended supplementary information, a list of tobacco prevention resources, and a 28-item bibliography