Initiative Description: The project incorporated two innovative approaches: (a) student enrollment in a school-based health center for comprehensive health services, and (b) recruitment of teachers from within the students’ school to engage in mentored relationships. The primary role of mentors was to build a relationship with each student to engender processes of self-development and promote school engagement.

Study Results: Students in the intervention group demonstrated a significantly greater probability of remaining in school than students in the control group.

Reference: DeSocio, J., VanCura, M., Nelson, L. A., Hewitt, G., Kitzman, H., & Cole, R. (2007). Engaging Truant Adolescents: Results From a Multifaceted Intervention Pilot. Preventing School Failure, 51(3), 3-9.

Level of Evidence: Very Good