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Northward Bound Mentoring Enhancement Project

Award Information

Award #
2012-JU-FX-0034
Location
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2012
Total funding (to date)
$985,902

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2012, $355,558)

This demonstration program supports collaborations of qualified, established mentoring program sites that enhance (1) the matching of youth and mentors based on needs, skills, experiences, and interests; (2) initial and ongoing training for mentors, and (3) ongoing mentor support. The program aims to improve the effectiveness of mentoring through the systematic implementation of advocacy or teaching functions into mentors' roles. This program is authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-55, 125 Stat. 552,617.

This project will include three Big Brothers Big Sisters sites along a Northward Bound corridor from the border of Mexico to the Texas panhandle. The sites will implement a one to one mentoring program enhancement and serve 225 at risk Hispanic youth ages 11-15. Mentors will be randomly assigned and intervention group mentors will be coached and supported to implement teaching and advocacy functions into their roles. The agency will implement strategic program enhancements to making matches, training mentors and supporting mentors during the match relationship. The eight proposed enhancements include more detailed assessments and home visits for mentors, enhanced match introductions, initial and advanced training on advocacy and teaching, reduced caseloads, more frequent contact, and greater opportunities for interaction among participants. The partnering agencies share common, existing data collection and evaluation tools and have collaborated on the development, design and data tracking methods unique to this project.

CA/NCF

Date Created: September 5, 2012