LUK Mentoring

LUK Crisis Center, Inc. (LUK) will implement LUK Mentoring. The purpose is to match youth ages 6–17 with volunteer mentors in Worcester County, MA. Over the three-year project period, LUK Mentoring will support new matches for 150 youth (50 per year) and 30 continuation matches. Project activities include site-based mentoring for one school year or community-based mentoring for one calendar year. Matches engage in activities at designated sites or in the community for at least one hour per week. Mentor matches will also join together with staff and families for celebrations and group activities. LUK Mentoring integrates the Elements of Effective Practices for Mentoring into the delivery of services, including mentor recruitment, screening, training, matching, monitoring, and match closure. Mentors are recruited and trained to support youth who are currently misusing or dependent on substances including opioids, stimulants, and other licit or illicit substances, youth at risk for misusing substances, and youth with family members who are currently misusing or dependent on substances. Mentors provide support for youth to progress toward success in school, at home, and in life, based on personalized goals in their Mentorship Plan. Expected outcomes include: 50 percent of accepted youth are matched with a mentor (note: of all youth referred for mentoring, not all will be eligible for the proposed project, but may be accepted into mentoring projects funded by other sources), 95 percent of accepted mentors are matched with youth, 85 percent of matches have at least 35 contacts throughout the length of their match, 85 percent of closed matches will have met for the minimum expected length of the match, 75 percent of mentees develop/maintain/strengthen lifelong connections, increased involvement in healthy recreational activities/hobbies, and abstaining from/reduced substance misuse.