New Survey: 9 in 10 U.S Adults Say Youth Mentorship Is Important

(January 4, 2021)

Park and recreation professionals serve in essential mentorship roles

Nine in 10 U.S. adults agree it is important for children and young adults to have access to mentors, including 71 percent who say it is extremely or very important, according to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) poll. January is National Mentoring Month, and NRPA is proud to recognize park and recreation professionals who serve in many essential mentorship roles, including:  

  • Teachers
  • Coaches
  • Counselors
  • Community leaders

Parents and Gen Xers are among those who most strongly believe that mentorship is critical to the success of youth, with 79 percent of Gen Xers and 80 percent of parents indicating it is extremely or very important for children and young adults to have access to mentors. Park and recreation professionals who serve as mentors strengthen community connections and provide support for youth by:

  • Building confidence
  • Encouraging positivity and values
  • Empowering healthy decision making

“Park and recreation professionals are compassionate mentors who help to address the many challenges youth face, such as trauma and adversity, by providing positive social connections,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA’s vice president of research, evaluation and technology. “By cultivating strong bonds with our communities’ children and young adults, park and recreation professionals are helping to build healthy and resilient future generations.”

NRPA offers a variety of mentorship resources, such as the Youth Mentoring Framework that was developed to help local park and recreation agencies craft their own unique, individualized mentoring programs, and the Park and Recreation Mentorship for Rural Youth Impacted by Opioids in Central Appalachia program. To view NRPA’s full list of mentorship resources, click here.

To view the interactive charts with the survey results, click here.

To view the full-size infographic, click here.

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.

###

About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.