Adaptation of the Mentoring FAN Cross-Culturally: Lessons from India

Abstract

Youth mentoring programs are active across the globe. Yet, most of the formal research on mentoring has been conducted in Western countries. This article focuses on the impact of a mentoring staff training within a large, multi-site youth mentoring program in India. The focus is on how the cross-cultural application of the Mentoring FAN, a model of attunement, influences staff skills and experience of relationship within the program. Additionally, the research aims to understand what is culturally consonant and discordant in this approach, and how such tension may influence participants’ application of the training. Using a mixed methods design, survey results (n = 15) suggest that staff developed an increase in empathy following the intervention, as well as growth in mindfulness and attunement skills. Qualitative findings from reflective practice and focus groups (n = 13) suggest that while staff found these practices were not consonant with Indian culture and therefore initially challenging to implement, the Mentoring FAN helped them use their roles more productively, and uncover difficulties within the relationships they oversee. Supportive relationships moved from asymmetrical and prescriptive, toward more open and collaborative. Findings have implications for social service practice and research, particularly in terms of culturally responsive adaptation of relationship-based interventions.