Adult Mentor - Children in Kentucky
Kentucky
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Kentucky Value:
89.3%
Percentage of children ages 12-17 who have at least one adult in their school, neighborhood, or community who knows them well and who they can rely on for advice or guidance (2-year estimate)
Kentucky Rank:
25
Adult Mentor - Children in depth:
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Adult Mentor - Children by State
Percentage of children ages 12-17 who have at least one adult in their school, neighborhood, or community who knows them well and who they can rely on for advice or guidance (2-year estimate)
Adult Mentor - Children in
Data from National Survey of Children's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), 2022-2023
>= 93.7%
91.3% - 93.6%
88.6% - 91.2%
86.5% - 88.5%
<= 86.4%
Adult Mentor - Children
- National Survey of Children's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), 2022-2023
About Adult Mentor - Children
US Value: 86.8%
Top State(s): Montana: 95.7%
Bottom State(s): Nevada: 77.7%
Definition: Percentage of children ages 12-17 who have at least one adult in their school, neighborhood, or community who knows them well and who they can rely on for advice or guidance (2-year estimate)
Data Source and Years(s): National Survey of Children's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), 2022-2023
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of National Survey of Children's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
Youth mentorships can offer a supportive relationship between an adult and a young person to help young people access opportunities and guidance as they navigate life’s challenges.
Mentorship offers many benefits for both the mentor and the mentee. Children and youth who have an adult mentor are more likely to graduate from high school, have stronger relationships with their parents, teachers and peers, and are less likely to use illicit drugs or alcohol.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of having an adult mentor is higher among:
- White children compared with Hispanic children.
- Children with a parent or guardian who graduated from college compared with those whose parents or guardians have less than a high school education.
Mentorships are also more prevalent among children from more affluent households and households primarily speaking English.
Recommendations for improving and expanding youth mentoring include:
- Raising awareness of the value of mentoring among youth and families, especially those with greatest need, such as rural and low-income communities.
- Increasing economic stability, which adults need before they can invest time in being a mentor.
- Promoting a “mentor mindset” among adults who work with youth and training them to become effective and positive mentors.
While Healthy People 2030 does not have a specific objective for mentors, they do have a goal to increase the proportion of adolescents who have an adult they can talk to about serious problems.
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