The El Paso Juvenile Drug Court Mentoring Project

The goal of the Juvenile Drug Courts Mentoring and Support Services Initiative is to build the capacity of states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and tribal governments to enhance juvenile drug courts by developing and establishing a comprehensive support service initiative that would include mentoring and other appropriate support services (i.e., educational services, health services, employment services, community services, recreational activities, parenting programs, housing assistance) to serve substance-abusing youth who are assigned to the juvenile drug court program. This program is authorized under 42 U.S.C. 3797u.

The El Paso Juvenile Drug Court Mentoring Project is focused on program planning and implementation of mentoring services for the El Paso Juvenile Drug Court and the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Juvenile Tribal Drug Court (both referred to herein as "Juvenile Drug Courts"), serving 60 chemically dependent, non-violent youth offenders between the ages of 14 - 16 in three years. Based on Risk and Protective Factors research, this project will complement and strengthen the Juvenile Drug Court program services by implementing an evidence-based mentoring service, as well as additional ancillary services, such as youth leadership opportunities and parent academies, through Border Children's Mental Health Collaborative. This project will serve primarily Latino youth, living in El Paso County near the border of Mexico. Most youth mentored in the region live in poverty and are experiencing other risk factors, such as exposure to violence, drugs and gangs. Progress toward Goals and Objectives will be tracked and monitored monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, and annually for continuous monitoring and project improvement. Outputs include increasing the number of program participants provided with a mentor. Outcomes include preventing re-offenses, encouraging completion of the drug court requirements, and reducing substance abuse among target youth.
CA/NCF