JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Black youth are particularly vulnerable, impacted by systematic anti-black racism prevalent in the education systems and by age. Black youth aspirations for higher education are frequently hampered by a number of socioeconomic factors that impact post-secondary (i.e., College, Polytechnic Institute, University) enrollment and disrupt successful transition into adulthood, resulting in poor health outcomes. Mentoring has been shown to mitigate risks and inspire black youth to close the achievement gap and improve health outcomes. 

Objective:

To identify, characterize, and synthesize academic and gray literature on black youth mentoring programs within North America, identify current gaps in the literature, research areas requiring systematic reviews and/or primary research and provide recommendations to relevant stakeholders.

Methods:

The methodology for conducting scoping reviews presented by Arksey and O’Malley, along with others, and the PRISMA-ScR will be used and adapted as guides. Confined to the English language, a comprehensive and systematic search will be conducted in relevant disciplinary and interdisciplinary electronic databases from July 8, 2012 to July 8, 2022. The following bibliographic databases will be searched: Scopus (Elsevier), PsycINFO (OVID), ERIC (EBSCOhost), Academic Search Complete, and Education Research Complete. We will conduct forward and backward citation chasing of included articles. Gray literature will be searched in other relevant electronic databases, government websites and websites of educational associations or organizations. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts for inclusion, and two reviewers will independently screen full text to determine final inclusion. Discrepancies will be resolved through purposeful discussion. An extraction tool has been developed a priori. Data will be summarized quantitatively, qualitatively, and presented graphically. Through this process, we will summarize the current state of evidence around black youth mentorship programs and identify current gaps in the literature, as well as the research areas requiring systematic reviews and/or primary research.

Results:

 Results will be included in the scoping review, which will be published in 2022. In this protocol, the methods for undertaking this scoping review are detailed. 

Conclusions:

This scoping review will summarize the extent and nature of Black youth mentorship programs in North America and provide future research recommendations.