Part One: Transforming the Lives of At-Risk YouthPart Two: Northern Virginia Community Mobilization Initiative

This project will fund two program components to be operated by World Vision, Inc. First will be a continuation of Vision Youth activities from previous years in 8 locations across the country, focusing on WA, WV, and NY. The program will facilitate one-on-one mentoring, educational enhancement, and life-skills training for at-risk children and youth. Project goals include (1) improved academic performance and (2) reduction of identified risk factors in the lives of high-risk young people. Performance measures for component one include using surveys and academic records to measure increases in Developmental Assets for mentored youth, improvement in academic performance, improvement in school attachment, and attainment of individual academic, vocational and employment goals. This includes a six month follow up with program youth. The second part of this project is new and will support World Vision's Community Mobilization Initiative (CMI) to address gangs and related crime and violence in the Northern Virginia metropolitan region. This initiative will have three primary activities: (1) Gang Member Intervention, (2) Neighborhood Transformation, and (3) Community Outreach Campaign. The efforts will target mainly immigrant Latino youth and families identified as at-risk for, or currently involved in, gang activity. Seven North Virginia counties (Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudon, Prince William, and Shenandoah) plus the city of Alexandria will be targeted. Performance measures for the CMI component include measuring the number of youth involved in mentoring relationships, number of gang members meeting regularly with project staff, number of parents and caregivers attending workshops, and number of youth involved in program activities. Surveys of attitudes and knowledge base will also be used to measure the impact of activities, trainings and events.NCA/NCF