4-H National Mentoring Program

This solicitation invites eligible applicants to propose the enhancement or expansion of initiatives that will assist in the development and maturity of community programs providing mentoring services to high-risk populations that are underserved due to location, shortage of mentors, special physical or mental challenges of the targeted population, or other analogous situations identified by the community in need of mentoring services. OJJDP's National Mentoring Programs initiative is authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117).

4-H, in partnership with Land-Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System in all 50 states, proposes to launch and implement "4-H National Mentoring Program." This program will feature three Programs of Distinction, recognized for implementing effective mentoring strategies with goals of reducing juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, and school failure. Identified objectives are 1) Improved outcomes for at-risk youth; 2) Improved mentoring program administration; and 3) Improved organizational capacity. Outcomes will be tracked using performance measures including increase in mentors, mentor retention, numbers of youth served, percentage of youth completing the program, and percentage of youth exhibiting the desired program outcomes. Three strategies -- 4-H Mentoring: Youth & Families With Promise (4-H YFP), Tech Wizards, and 4-H LIFE -- will incorporate core principles of positive youth development to improve the well-being of at-risk youth ages 8-17, especially underserved populations of Latino, African American and children of incarcerated parents.
CA/NCF