The COPE Project

The Community Organizations and Programs that Empower youth (COPE) Project targets the crucial need to build protective factors among youth involved in the juvenile justice system in some of Southeast Louisiana’s most unsafe communities. A combination of individual, relationship, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of youth violence.

The project will systematically incorporate research and evidence-based practices into the design. This in turn will complement and strengthen mentoring services through targeted family-engaging activities that will result in increased in-person staff contact, targeted referrals, training for families, and the end outcome of building protective factors for youth.

Applying under Category 1: Mentoring Organizations (1 state), The COPE Project targets the crucial need to build protective factors among youth, ages 10-17, involved in the justice system, as well as those at high risk for delinquency and victimization, in some of Southeast Louisiana’s most unsafe communities throughout the Greater Baton Rouge and Greater New Orleans areas. Face to Face Enrichment Center’s mentoring program has been operational for 15 years. The COPE Project is supported by Pelican Bayou Counseling Agency to provide mental health services for youth who can benefit from treatment. A minimum of 120 youth will be served each year through this effort.

Progress towards Goals and Objectives (Outputs/Short-Term and Outcomes/Long-Term) will be tracked and monitored monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, and annually for continuous monitoring and project improvement. Outputs include increasing the number of and levels of participation in family-engaging activities, providing training and information supplements to participants, increasing the number of in-person contact with staff, increasing the number of referrals, and increasing the number of program partners to support the project. Outcomes include preventing juvenile delinquency, improving family relationships, improving pro-social community views, and improving peer relationships – all proven protective factors. No portion of the project budget is requested to conduct research.

* Face to Face Enrichment Center grants OJJDP permission to share our abstract and contact information with potentially interested private foundations, if not funded.