Intensive Gang Prevention Youth Mentoring Project

OJJDP seeks applicants to establish mentoring programs that offer a mixture of core services and engage youth with activities that enable them to practice healthy behaviors within a positive pro-social peer group. The target population should be youth at risk of gang activity, delinquency, and youth violence. This program should develop and strengthen protective factors against gang involvement and other problem behaviors. It can be based in a school or community setting. Successful applicants will include organizations, local school districts, and communities dealing with demonstrated gang problems who are a part of a communitywide strategy to combat gang activity. This initiative is authorized under the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2009, Pub. L. 111-8.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is initiating the Intensive Gang Prevention Youth Mentoring Project to reduce the number of youth involved in youth violence and gang activity by providing at-risk youth with intensive, community-based mentoring opportunities and support. MPRB will provide intensive mentoring and support to 45 at-risk youth, recruit and train 30 community-based mentors, and offer structured opportunities for youth to develop healthy relationships, learn new skills, and strengthen community connections. The target population is at-risk youth aged 11-15 (age at the time of recruitment), particularly African American youth.

The Intensive Gang Prevention Youth Mentoring Project is designed to: provide an opportunity for at-risk youth to develop long-term relationships with a
positive adult role model that supports their growth and development; strengthen the community connections of youth; reduce youth participation in risk behaviors; and help youth develop and pursue personal, educational, and professional goals.

Measurable, targeted behavior changes for youth include a reduction in risk behaviors (e.g. drug and alcohol use/abuse, carrying weapons, fighting, gang involvement, skipping school, etc.); youth meeting at least one of their self-identified goals; and no new involvement in the juvenile justice system. CA/NCF