The author, one of the founders of the professional youth mentoring program, Friends of the Children, reflects back on his work over the past three decades, how far the field has come, and where it might go next. He suggests that it is time for society to more formally recognize that serving youth growing up in difficult circumstances requires a combination of knowledge and skills and a specialty in fostering relationships that equip and empower. In other words, more professional mentors are needed to fill the gaps in service that are becoming increasingly prevalent for youth. In the coming years, he suggests that professional mentoring can leverage and strengthen the power of relationship to improve the effectiveness of systems and practices designed for youth and families like schools and behavioral health systems. Two main tasks are proposed to maximize the use of mentoring: (a) professional mentors must be trained to do the skill building necessary with youth to improve the outcomes of focus within these systems and (b) systems need to change to allow professional mentors to fill these roles. To accomplish these tasks will require a combination of focus, action, and persistence across time.