National Native American 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 to provide 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. This program is authorized under the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117).

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) will utilize OJJDP funding to expand its multi-state mentoring initiative, currently delivered in American Indian/Alaska Native communities in six states. The mentoring program pairs peer and adult mentors with at-risk youth in tribal communities. In addition to traditional mentoring activities, matches are encouraged to incorporate culture and traditions into their meetings. They can further participate in sports, health, education, leadership, and life skills programs at community-based youth service centers, where mentoring sessions take place. NCAI will provide sub-grants to 11 top-performing mentoring sites and will host an open competition for nine new expansion sites. All sites will designate a mentoring coordinator to oversee the program on the local level. Coordinators will receive training and technical assistance to establish or strengthen their mentoring programs, utilizing best practices in the field. Together, the mentoring sites will match 400 youth mentees with caring and responsible mentors. The matches will meet on a weekly basis for a period of one academic or calendar year. As a result of participation in the program, mentees will demonstrate improvements in academic performance and school attendance, as well as, a decrease in anti-social behavior. CA/NCF