Adelante Juntos Coalition "Project Amigos"

This grant program is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (the 'Recovery Act'). Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention made awards to support local organizations that develop, implement, or expand local mentoring programs leading to measurable, positive outcomes for at-risk youth. This program furthers the Department's mission by enhancing the capacity of local mentoring programs to develop and implement mentoring strategies to reduce juvenile delinquency and prevent violence.

El Centro for the Study of Primary and Secondary Education proposes to develop Project Amigos, a community-based mentoring program developed in collaboration with San Manuel School District, Adelante Juntos Coalition, Sun Life Family Health Clinic, San Manuel Miner Newspaper, and Pinal County Sheriff's Department. Project Amigos will serve at-risk youth in grades 7-10 from San Manuel Junior and Senior High Schools--the predominantly Latino youth report high levels of substance use, truancy, and disciplinary referrals and low academic achievement. The goals and objectives of the project will emphasize reduction in substance use, decrease truancy, increase youth social skills and responsibilities, and improve academic achievement. Project Amigos will (1) preserve and create jobs; (2) create 25 adult mentor/youth mentee relationships to be sustained for one year or more; (3) reduce alcohol, substance abuse and violence; and (4) reduce unexcused absences and disciplinary referrals, and increase academic achievement. Project Amigos will use the mentoring best practice developed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in addition to creating cultural identity by implementing the Compadrazgo Model.

This grant award will retain two jobs and create one job, thus the project achieves the Recovery Act objective of promoting economic recovery by preserving or creating jobs. CA/NCF