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.
The East Bay Mentoring Partnership (EBMP) will enhance four mentoring programs by equipping mentors to serve as teachers and
advocates for their mentees. The partnership will develop and implement: 1) a centralized process for mentor applications and screening and assessment of mentors and mentees, employing an online Mentor Management System, common tools and interviews, in order to base matches on alignment between mentee needs and interests and mentor interests, skills, and experiences, 2) a comprehensive mentor training program emphasizing positive youth development principles and practices; and 3) use of online mentoring logs, weekly debriefings, a blog, and mentor team activities to provide ongoing support to mentors. We will pilot these enhancements for a target population of 300+ youth ages 11-15 who are at high risk of dropping out. Project goals are: 1) Improve matching, mentor training and support, and retention (measured by documentation of the match process and decisions, training and attendance logs, surveys, retention analyses); 2) Improve mentees' school engagement and performance (measured by improvements in attendance, suspensions, GPA, and on track to graduate data; and 3) Prevent gang involvement and delinquency (measured by avoidance of arrests or offenses, gang involvement, and revictimization). The EBMP intends to participate in the OJJDP funded evaluation.
CA/NCF
