We adopted a widely-used “Top Problems” measure, developed by Harvard University researchers, into the MoodRing. The Mood Ring is meant to complement regular assessments and to focus the mentoring relationships on the problems that mentees consider most important.

MentorHub graphs weekly progress on the MoodRing for easy access to mentees, mentors, and programs . To accomplish this, MentorHub has incorporated sophisticated data collection techniques (e.g., time sampling youth’s moods, period assessments, automatic scoring, and visualization of data) which, aided by machine learning, can simplify and improve the capacity of programs to monitor and evaluate their efforts. Increasing the frequency, accuracy, and efficiency of data collection and analysis has potentially far-reaching effects (e.g., enabling early detection of problems and more targeted support as well as reducing the need for costly program evaluations).

Weisz, J. R., Chorpita, B. F., Frye, A., Ng, M. Y., Lau, N., Bearman, S. K., … & Hoagwood, K. E. (2011). Youth Top Problems: using idiographic, consumer-guided assessment to identify treatment needs and to track change during psychotherapy. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 79(3), 369.

RSS MentorHub Blog

  • How mentors can help students navigate another complicated school year September 17, 2020
    By Jean Rhodes As schools across the country close for the beginning of the new year, youth mentoring programs have a vital role to play in mitigating student struggles. Learning slides are already expected to be steepest for low-income, Black and Hispanic students, who typically live in more crowded homes and have less access to […]
    Jean Rhodes
  • Finding the mentoring “sweet spot” by letting youth take the lead on setting and assessing goals October 21, 2019
    By: Dr. Edmond Bowers, National Mentoring Resource Center The field of mentoring has frequently debated the essential ingredient of relationships to promote positive outcomes in mentees. On one hand, some argue that developmental support, mentoring behaviors that build closeness in the match and promote a mentee’s self-concept and emotional development, is key. On the other […]
    Jeremy Astesano
  • Personalized learning in schools has implications for mentoring programs too September 7, 2017
    By Emily Berman, for the Huffington Post Tara’s eyes lit up in a way I had not seen before. I could almost hear what she was thinking: “Felicia is amazing.” Felicia, a local organizer for the NAACP, had just given a talk to our students about how to make change and organize in their community. […]
    Justin Preston