CBM CARES® National Mentoring Initiative

This program supports the enhancement or expansion of initiatives that will help communities develop or improve mentoring programs for at-risk or 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 that the community identifies. This program is authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2012; Pub. L. 112-55, 125 Stat. 552, 617.

The CBM CARES® National Mentoring Initiative will include at least 500 additional at-risk boys, 11-14 year-olds, in four new cities where CBM has active chapters. Additionally, the current Columbia, SC program site will be expanded. The new cities are: Cape Cod, MA; Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and, Oakland, CA. New mentors will work with these young males to help reduce juvenile delinquency, improve academic competency, and reduce gang and crew participation. Further, monthly structured activities (educational enrichment and service learning) will be held to facilitate stronger mentor-mentee relationships and make it easier for mentors to meet in-person with mentees. CBM CARES includes one-on-one and group mentoring by responsible men from the community where the youth reside, youth and parent education, structured activities and referrals to social service agencies. The program relies on pre- and post- surveys to measure the young males' reduction in violent behavior, contact with the juvenile justice system, and truancy and suspensions. School attendance and matriculation records will be used to demonstrate increased school attachment and matriculation to high school for 8th graders.

CA/NCF