Provide research/evidence-based enhancements to the 4-H Mentoring of Central Utah program through: 1)One-on-One mentoring, 2) initial and ongoing mentor training, and 3) ongoing mentor support.

This demonstration program will support collaborations of qualified, established mentoring program sites to incorporate advocacy or teaching functions into mentors' roles through (1) matching youth and mentors based on needs, skills, experiences, and interests; (2) initial and ongoing training for mentors; and (3) ongoing mentor support.

4-H Mentoring of Central Utah is comprised of three sites: Utah County 4-H, Iron County 4-H and Brigham Young University. The program provides community based one-on-one mentoring by matching 225-300 new/additional mentees with a college-age mentor. Youth are in 4th to 8th grades for the initial match and come from economically disadvantaged urban/suburban neighborhoods that are at risk of juvenile delinquency and high-risk behaviors. The purpose of this project is to decrease delinquent behavior while increasing positive outcomes in youth by implementing systematic teaching or advocacy functions into the mentoring role. The activities to achieve this goal are: (1) Improving the mentor/mentee matching process by developing a standardized method to match the youth and mentors based on needs, skills, experience and interest. (2) Change existing trainings for mentors to include experiential learning model and the essential elements of youth development and expose youth to more youth-oriented resources available through 4-H. (3) Establish a Mentor Council to strengthen ongoing mentor support and provide advocacy. Project goals and expected outcomes are to decrease delinquent behavior, increase positive outcomes and strengthen family bonds. Goals will be measured through monthly mentor reports, annual pre/post test evaluation surveys, and participation in the OJJDP funded evaluation.

CA/NCF

This demonstration program will support collaborations of qualified, established mentoring program sites to incorporate advocacy or teaching functions into mentors' roles through (1) matching youth and mentors based on needs, skills, experiences, and interests; (2) initial and ongoing training for mentors; and (3) ongoing mentor support.

4-H Mentoring of Central Utah is comprised of three sites: Utah County 4-H, Iron County 4-H and Brigham Young University. The program provides community based one-on-one mentoring by matching 225-300 new/additional mentees with a college-age mentor. Youth are in 4th to 8th grades for the initial match and come from economically disadvantaged urban/suburban neighborhoods that are at risk of juvenile delinquency and high-risk behaviors. The purpose of this project is to decrease delinquent behavior while increasing positive outcomes in youth by implementing systematic teaching or advocacy functions into the mentoring role. The activities to achieve this goal are: (1) Improving the mentor/mentee matching process by developing a standardized method to match the youth and mentors based on needs, skills, experience and interest; (2) Change existing trainings for mentors to include experiential learning model and the essential elements of youth development and expose youth to more youth-oriented resources available through 4-H; and (3) Establish a Mentor Council to strengthen ongoing mentor support and provide advocacy. Project goals and expected outcomes are to decrease delinquent behavior, increase positive outcomes and strengthen family bonds. Goals will be measured through monthly mentor reports, annual pre/post test evaluation surveys, and participation in the OJJDP funded evaluation.

NCA/NCF