Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $1,300,000)
The recipient intends to build on a mentoring program currently in place in Indian Country. The mentors will incorporate cultural and traditional themes into the elements of positive youth development and will provide safe and trusting relationships by offering healthy messages about life and social behavior, providing guidance from positive role models, increasing positive educational outcomes, and participating in community activities. The recipient will partner with the Boys and Girls Club of America to recruit and train mentors who will provide mentoring services to approximately 500 children in 12 states. Clubs will coordinate the recruitment, screening, and training of volunteer mentors who will then develop mentoring relationships with selected children. Mentors will be trained on youth development and the cultural and traditional components of American Indian and Alaska Native youth. Each club will incorporate their own tribal customs into the model to strengthen the mentor-mentee relationship and enhance the mentees' development.
Pre- and post- test surveys will be used to measure the attitudinal changes in youth participants; track changes in behavioral problems and self-confidence; measure any improvements in school attendance and grades; and track feelings about the effectiveness of the mentors. CA/NCF