Enhancements to CBM Capital City Cares© Mentoring Program

This solicitation invites eligible applicants to propose research and evidence-based enhancements to mentoring programs based on three strategies: (1) involving the parents and family in activities and services, (2) delivering structured activities and programs for the mentoring matches, and (3) developing training and support for mentors. Research studies and evaluations of best practices have indicated that mentoring programs that provide multiple modes of treatment addressing both individual and environmental characteristics tend to be the most effective. This initiative is authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-8.

Concerned Black Men ' National Organization (CBM) will enhance their mentoring program in Focus Area 1 - involving the parents and families of mentoring participants in mentoring activities and providing or coordinating services for them. CBM proposes to build the organizational capacity of its Capital City Cares® Mentoring Program by adding and enhancing the involvement of the parents of its mentoring participants and providing and coordinating services for them. Additionally, CBM proposes to add and enhance structured activities and opportunities for the mentors and mentees. CBM created the Capital City Cares® Mentoring Program for young males of color in an effort to stem the tide of low school achievement and truancy, delinquency and drug involvement. The Capital City Cares® Mentoring program is a year round program that offers mostly African American young males an adult mentor, primarily an African American man, for at least one year (longer matches are encouraged). The school-based program includes both one-on-one and group mentoring and focuses on improving a young person's attachment to school, academic standing, and behavior. Group mentoring sessions occur in a school setting once every week during the school year. One-on-one mentoring generally occurs after school hours. CBM's data management strategy will include collection of data on the outcome and process objectives. The data collection/evaluation approach will assess progress at each step of the program's logic model. CA/NCF