Immersion Mentoring

The Multi-State Mentoring Program was established to support 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 by the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011, Pub. L. 112-110.

Immersion Mentoring will be implemented in existing after-school mentoring programs at 13 youth-serving organizations in 11 states (Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington). Immersion Learning will reduce high-risk behaviors and positively impact the social development and academic achievement of at-risk youth ages 9-13. Trained program coordinators and mentors will connect with mentees through joint participation in real-world science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities and interactive technologies. During the two-year project, the program will engage at least 520 mentees and 130 mentors. The sites they will be targeting all have a Community Disadvantage Rating of 6 or higher. Joint Base Elmendorf/ Richardson in Anchorage, AK will participate since its youth face risk factors related to one or more parents being deployed in the military.

CA/NCF