'The scope and depth of scholarship and application pertinent to youth mentoring is masterfully integrated in this significant and timely resource. This handbook is a vital reference for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers concerned with the promotion of positive youth development' - Richard M. Lerner, Tufts University. 'Handbook of Youth Mentoring provides excellent and remarkably comprehensive coverage of the theory, research, and practice. This volume provides researchers and practitioners with the most up-to-date knowledge on effective mentoring. It thoroughly covers different types of mentoring relationships, for different groups of youth, and in different institutional and program contexts. A must-have for anyone wanting to be up-to-date on mentoring' - Reed Larson, University of Illinois.'In my opinion, this book is a must for the field. I'm pleased that these two editors have taken on the challenge of pulling it together. They are quite ideally suited for the task...I give it the very highest rating' - Michael Nakkula, Harvard Graduate School of Education. With the support of a growing array of not-for-profit organizations, corporations, and government initiatives, mentoring programs now touch the lives of millions of youth each year. Countless more youth are impacted by mentoring relationships that develop through informal contacts between adults and young persons in schools, extracurricular activities, neighborhoods, and other settings. Handbook of Youth Mentoring addresses the need for a scholarly and comprehensive synthesis of current theory, research, and practice in the field of youth mentoring.Editors David L. DuBois and Michael J. Karcher, along with leading experts in the field, offer critical and informative analyses of the full spectrum of topics that are essential to advancing our understanding of the principles for effective mentoring of young people. The Handbook explores not only mentoring that occurs within formal programs such as 'Big Brothers Big Sisters', but also examines natural mentoring relationships that youth establish with adults outside of such programs. It offers the first scholarly rigorous and comprehensive examination of the field of youth mentoring It includes contributions by leading U.S. and international experts in the field of youth mentoring. It provides an Introduction by the volume editors to frame the various chapters and themes presented in the book.It uses an accessible, non-technical style of presentation, with detailed discussions of implications for practice and public policy. It examines special populations of youth, such as juvenile offenders, pregnant teens, gifted and talented students, abused and neglected youth, and youth with disabilities. The Handbook is sure to affect the lives of current and future generations of youth by helping shape mentoring practices, research, and policies throughout the world. It is an essential resource for scholars, professionals, and practitioners in the fields of psychology, education, human development and family studies, and human services. The Handbook is also an excellent addition to any academic library.