National Expansion of the YMCA's Building Futures 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.

YMCA of USA is proposing to leverage over 11 million members, staff, and volunteers across the country to expand our Building Futures Mentoring Program into 42 sites within at least 38 unique states. By training adult volunteers to develop therapeutic relationships with youth (ages 6-17, males and females), the program will match, monitor, and support 12 to 18 month long matches to achieve the following: provide direct one-to-one mentoring services to underserved youth populations; increase youth determinants for a successful future; increase youth connectedness to community/employment; improve youth connectedness to families/schools; and increase opportunities for non-familial adults to develop healthy relationships with youth. The program will engage youth in a host of meaningful activities and staff will track progress through data collection. The program will support 2,100 youth and adult matches in year one, 4,200 in year two, and 4,200 in year three.
CA/NCF