Chicago Youth Centers' Family Involvement Initiative

While research indicates that quality mentoring is a promising delinquency prevention technique, certain program characteristics and elements are moderators of its effectiveness. This solicitation invites eligible applicants to propose evidence-based enhancements that are among these moderators of program effectiveness. The three strategies include: (1) involving the parents in activities or services, (2) providing structured activities and programs for the mentoring matches, and (3) developing and implementing on-going training and support for mentors. This initiative is authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010, P.L. 111-117.

Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) seeks to enhance its current after-school, youth development mentoring programs by involving parents and providing resources for families in more meaningful and targeted ways. CYC operates community centers in five low-income neighborhoods in Chicago and targets youth and families who reside and attend school in these neighborhoods. By participating in an effective mentoring program that involves parents and families, youth will have better academic and pro-social outcomes, and be more likely to avoid risky behaviors. CYC's goal is to reduce juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, and other high- risk behaviors by providing parents and families with resources, engaging them in program activities, enhancing parent skills, and engaging them in volunteer and advocacy efforts. Objectives include, but are not limited to, serving 300 young people; providing 1,000 hours of parent programming; obtaining a 90% parent participation rate; 90% of mentees will indicate that they feel supported by their parent or guardian; 95% of mentees will be promoted to the next grade level; and 90% of mentees will have no involvement in the juvenile justice system. These objectives will be measured using CYC's Client Outcomes Tracking System (COTS) and will be monitored on an ongoing basis and reported to OJJDP quarterly.

CA/NCF