Mentoring relationships in the lives of care leavers during the transition to adulthood: contributions and challenges

Mentoring is increasingly attracting the attention of researchers and practitioners as a potential source of resilience among care leavers. However, more information is needed regarding mentoring process and impact on the lives of care leavers, and how meaningful and promotive mentoring relationships can be established through structured programs. This chapter aims at presenting the current literature on natural and assigned mentoring relationships in the lives of care leavers in relation to the mentors' roles in the care leavers' developmental tasks and outcomes before and during the transition to adulthood. This chapter will also discuss the needs and challenges experienced by assigned mentors in establishing meaningful mentoring relationships with care leavers. Insights from this chapter may inform empirical and practical implications for further development of interventions with care leavers.