Mentor Driven Gang Prevention through Targeted Outreach

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).

The Boys & Girls Club Mentor Driven Gang Prevention through Targeted Outreach approach is a comprehensive approach using effective techniques and strategies that direct at-risk youth to positive alternatives offered by Boys & Girls Clubs. Through a referral network of linkages by local Clubs with courts, police, other juvenile justice agencies, schools, social service agencies and community organizations, as well as through direct outreach efforts, youth are recruited and mainstreamed into Club programs as a diversion from gang activity. The Targeted Outreach approach includes four components: community mobilization; recruitment; mainstreaming and programming and case management. The goal of the Mentor Driven Gang Prevention through Targeted Outreach initiative is to prevent an average of 50 young people between the ages of 6 and 18 at each of the 15 Club organizations statewide (750 total) from becoming involved in gangs. The outcomes are: recruit an average of 50 youth at-risk of gang membership at each Club organization and provide them with constructive, positive alternatives; 80% (600 total) of the recruited youth will maintain continued participation in Club programming one year after intake; improve the school performance, attitude and attendance of 50 percent of targeted youth; and monitor and/or discourage new juvenile justice system involvement in at least 50 percent of the targeted youth one-year after intake. NCA/NCF