The Center for the Advancement of Mentoring & USDOJ, OJJDP: Everyone benefits when mentoring programs engage mentees’ parents and caregivers—youth, mentors, and the program as a whole. Parents and caregivers have important roles to play in many aspects of the mentoring relationship: enrolling their child in the program, communicating concerns and questions to program staff, and helping to create a positive match closure experience for their child. Mentoring programs that succeed in involving parents and caregivers are more likely to reach their program goals. Reaching out to parents and caregivers throughout their child’s mentoring experience and enabling them to connect with each other and with needed community services can help programs achieve positive outcomes for youth, families, and the community at large. Link to Tip Sheet