Rooted in 30 years of data, the study provides evidence of greater enrollment in higher education, increased salaries, reduced dependency on social services, and improved behavioral outcomes for mentored youth.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey (BBBSCNNJ) is proud to share groundbreaking findings from a recent study conducted by top researchers at Harvard University and the U.S. Department of Treasury. This study, released by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), highlights the transformative power of mentorship and its ability to positively shape the educational, economic, and social outcomes of young people.

The research, built on over 30 years of data, underscores the long-lasting impact mentorship programs like ours can have in reducing socioeconomic disparities. The study shows that mentorship can serve as an effective, scalable solution to help bridge gaps in opportunity and improve the lives of young people across the country.

Key findings from the study include:

• Increased Earnings: Young people who were mentored saw a 20% increase in earnings between ages 20 and 25, helping to boost their economic mobility.
• Higher College Attendance: Mentored youth are 10% more likely to attend college than those who were not mentored, giving them a greater chance at achieving their educational goals.
• Improved Behavior: Within just 18 months, mentored youth showed significant improvements in behavior, including lower absenteeism and fewer school suspensions.
• Stronger Social Outcomes: Mentorship also helps youth build stronger social connections and reduces dependency on social services, contributing to long-term societal benefits.

While past studies have suggested that youth need to completely change their environment to improve their economic outlook, this research proves that community-based mentorship is a low-cost solution that can yield similar, if not greater, results. With BBBSCNNJ’s program costs averaging $2,000 per year per youth, the increased lifetime earnings of mentored youth would not only benefit them but also generate enough tax revenue to recoup these costs within just seven years—making mentorship one of the most cost-effective youth interventions available.

This study builds on a groundbreaking 1991 randomized control trial (RCT) conducted by Public/Private Ventures and Mathematica Policy Research. By linking BBBS data to U.S. tax records, the new research offers a powerful look into the lasting impact of mentorship on education, employment, and social identity, providing us with invaluable insight into how we can continue to improve the lives of our young people.

At BBBSCNNJ, we remain committed to providing life-changing mentorship to the youth in our community, and this study affirms the critical role that programs like ours play in shaping the future of the next generation.

The full research report can be found HERE. To learn more about BBBSCNNJ and how you can get involved visit  www.mentornj.org.