Eluna's Camp Mariposa Addiction Prevention and Mentoring Program for Youth Impacted by Substance Use Disorder

Eluna provides targeted mentoring services to youth ages 9 -17 at high risk for developing a substance use disorder and becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. Camp Mariposa utilizes a group mentoring model to serve youth in both rural and urban locations. Camp Mariposa will prevent and reduce delinquency by delaying onset of the first use of drugs and alcohol; preventing or reducing involvement in the juvenile justice system; connecting program participants with trained adult mentors; creating a positive peer support network for program participants; and providing opportunities for youth and families to participate in positive social activities. The primary vehicle for the group mentoring will be free overnight camps offered six times a year for youth ages 9-12. These camp sessions offer traditional camp activities enhanced with evidence-based prevention curricula and activities that focus on boosting protective factors. Additional activities will be held for youth participants, their families, and the adult mentors in the months between camp weekends. A portion of the funding will be used to support existing Camp Mariposa locations in Sarasota and St. Petersburg, FL; Chicago, IL; Indianapolis, Mitchell and South Bend, IN; Knoxville, TN; and Everett and Vancouver, WA. In addition, Eluna will expand the Camp Mariposa network to include a new location in Boise, Idaho. It is expected that youth will be served through 10 Camp Mariposa locations through this grant. Youth will attend the camp weekends and be matched with trained adult mentors in a group setting. The remaining youth served will be the younger family members who attend the additional family activities. It is expected that trained adult mentors will support these youth at the camp weekends as well as activities in between camp weekends.