Using an in-depth, open-ended interviewing format, the author examined the impact that mentor relationships have on foster care youth as they reach the age of majority and are transitioning out of the foster care system into independent adult life. For the purpose of this study, a mentor will be classified as either a "prementor," referring to the adult present while the youth was in the foster care system, or as a "post foster care mentor," referring to the adult present after the youth had "aged out" from the foster care system and entered the independent living program. This study investigated the relationship between four foster care youth (ages 18-21) who were enrolled in an independent living program and their mentors (both prementor and post foster care mentor), identifying specific actions and interactions, and exploring the outcomes of these mentoring relationships and their developmental impact on the youth as seen by them.

The qualitative data collection revealed two main findings. First, the four subjects reported that there are meaningful qualities of prementors and post foster care mentors, though they may well not be identical for both. Second, the four subjects reported that their mentors (both prementors and post foster care mentors) had a positive impact on the enhancement of their relational skills and aided in their transition into independent living. These findings yield recommendations on assigning prementors to children and youth entering the foster care system and assigning post foster care mentors to foster care youth starting in an independent living program. Knowledge gleaned from this study has the potential benefit in the recruitment and training of mentors in the foster care system and in independent living programs. Suggestions for future research are presented.