Mentoring Children of Promise; one-on-one mentoring relationships for children impacted by parental involvement in the criminal justice system.

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.

In 2003, Volunteers of America Western Washington began a community-based mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents. Mentoring Children of Promise is prepared to expand this program, as well as incorporate a strong emphasis on youth career planning and higher education planning. The project serves children, ages of 7-18, who live in Snohomish and King Counties. These children are referred for mentoring services through Volunteers of America's existing program(s) with correctional institutions and community partners. Carefully screened and trained mentors provide youth with at least six-to-eight hours of one-on-one mentoring per month for at least two years. Throughout the duration of the program, participants will have access to (1) a broad range of supportive services from partner organizations (including educational, mental health, and job preparation services) and, (2) professional program staff who have been formally trained on the needs of children at risk for delinquency due to parental involvement in the criminal justice system. Unique to the project, participants will be able to call upon the services of a Resource Coordinator who will connect mentors, mentees, and, when appropriate, mentees' families, to services that may be required to maintain the child's healthy development and sustain their participation in the program.

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