LATM's Evidence-Based Group Mentoring for At-Risk Youth

The Los Angeles Mentoring Program proposes to expand its existing programming in under-resourced areas of Los Angeles and San Diego, CA specifically to the rural communities served by Fresno County middle schools. In addition to the challenges of underserved groups in urban districts, rural districts are faced with additional challenges of isolation, transportation, and limited access to health and academic services. The project will enable Los Angeles Mentoring Program to recruit and train 322 mentors to provide research-based enhanced mentoring to 2,790 at-risk middle school youth over the 3-year project period. The expansion will include virtual mentoring (e-Works) in all target districts, contributing to greater accessibility and overcoming barriers to services or opportunities. In-person mentoring (TeamWorks) will be offered only in Los Angeles. Mentoring teams will participate in grade-level curricula designed to increase protective factors, develop social-emotional learning skills, and reduce the likelihood of negative behaviors and outcomes. The curriculum addresses the impact of bullying and cyberbullying and increases empathy among mentees. The Los Angeles Mentoring Program will increase protective factors such as improved attendance and academic performance, improved persistence and resilience, and established relationship-building with peers and adults. The Los Angeles Mentoring Program will build on its current youth-family partnership activities to incorporate more parent voice, input, and active responsibilities. To measure progress toward meeting project goals and objectives, the Los Angeles Mentoring Program will work with an external consultant to track performance measures, collect and analyze data, and report on internal progress and achievement of outcomes.