Parents are a critical resource for young people. However, other adults can provide support, which is similar to parents. Such involvement is especially important for young people who come from poor, struggling families and live in neighborhoods that offer few positive employment opportunities.

Mentors provide the sustained presence of a positive,caring adult role model, who help a youth find a pathway through the everyday challenges of school, training and the labour force.

Mentors can gain trust, foster mutual respect and make a personal connection with youth, by showing them they are willing to make a sustained, intensive personal commitment. To develop a personal connection, it is essential for the mentor to let the youth know, that he or she is worth the mentor's time and effort. The mentor can also use their knowledge and experience to offer the youth ways to expand his or her horizons and to increase the likelihood that he or she will achieve success.