"The Role of Risk: Mentoring Experiences and Outcomes for Youth with Varying Risk Profiles" presents findings from the first large-scale study to examine how the levels and types of risk youth face may influence their relationships with program-assigned mentors and the benefits they derive from these relationships. The study looked closely at the backgrounds of participating youth and their mentors, the mentoring relationships that formed, the program supports that were offered, and the benefits that youth accrued--and assessed how these varied for youth with differing "profiles" of risk. The authors believe the study's results provide useful guidance for practitioners, funders and policymakers who want to know which youth are best suited for mentoring and how practices might be strengthened to help ensure that youth facing a variety of risks get the most out of their mentoring experience. This summary highlights the major findings and implications from the full report. (Contains 12 endnotes.) [Additional funding was provided by Washington's Department of Social and Health Services. For the full report, see ED544233.]