CCUSA National Mentoring Program

This program supports national mentoring organizations in their efforts to strengthen and/or expand their existing mentoring activities within local affiliates. Mentoring activities include direct one-on-one mentoring, group mentoring, or peer mentoring services to at-risk and underserved youth populations. This program is authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-55, 125 Stat. 552, 617.

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) aims to provide evidence-based mentoring services to at least 3,500 youth over a period of three years through a network of 47 Catholic organizations representing 39 states. CCUSA will act as fiscal agent and provide program monitoring, reporting, and technical assistance to its sub-grantees. The program's purpose is to prevent delinquency, truancy, drug use, gang involvement, pregnancy and other high risk activities while improving school performance. Targeted to at risk youth, including the children of military families, between the ages of 9 and 17 who live in areas of significant community disadvantage, the program will use trained adult volunteers matched one to one with at risk youth to form nurturing relationships lasting no less than twelve months. Built on weekly two hour individual meetings, the program will include periodic group recreational activities as well as case management and other assistance provided by professional social service or service learning staff. The CCUSA National Mentoring Program has three goals: 1) to establish a network of CCUSA member organizations equipped to provide evidence based youth mentoring services; 2) to reduce delinquency, drug abuse, truancy, gang involvement and other high-risk behaviors through increasing the availability of youth mentoring; and 3) to improve school performance of participating youth. CCUSA will support the local organizations as they develop community partnerships and recruit, train and sustain volunteer mentors in service to the enhanced well-being of youth. Program data will be collected and contribute to a final report illustrating the methods and outcomes of the program.
CA/NCF