VFZ High Risk Youth Mentoring Support Project

The goals of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise's (CNE) Violence-Free Zone (VFZ) mentoring initiative are to reduce truancies, suspensions, violent and non-violent incidents and low academic performance among high-risk students. Objectives are to: 1) Expand school-based and community mentoring services for 875 youth in six urban centers; 2) Create and implement a peer mentoring program within at least four VFZ community partner organizations with at least three Junior Youth Advisors (mentors) at each site; 3) Create and implement five innovative new activities/strategies to motivate high-risk youth; and 4) Increase supportive services for youth by expanding the number of collaborative partnerships with at least two additional entities at each site. Activities will include: 1) Training for site leaders on mentor recruiting, development, and management; 2) Training of mentors; 3) Development and implementation of a peer-to-peer mentoring program; 4) Outreach and secure collaborative partnerships with public and private organizations providing ancillary or supporting services; and 5) A mini grant program to stimulate and implement innovative approaches to enhance mentoring success and motivate young people to positive behaviors.

CA/NCF