Southeast Florida Mentoring Enhancement Program is a single-program design that supports enhancements to community-based one-on-one mentoring in Broward, Miami-Dade, & Palm Beach and Martin Counties

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 Southeast Florida Regional Mentoring Enhancement Program is a collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Greater Miami (lead applicant), BBBS of Broward County, and BBBS of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, collectively offering 119 years experience in implementing one-on-one community-based, volunteer-driven mentoring founded on the Big Brother Big Sisters of America model. The demonstration project will enhance community-based mentoring in one site per agency (3) with each site implementing a single program design that: 1) enhances interest-based matching for 40 new mentees per site (120 intervention, 105 control group), ages 12 to 14; 2) trains mentors in advocacy/teaching through four additional post-match Building Better Bigs trainings addressing gaps in wraparound services; and, 3) supports/coaches mentors in expanding advocacy/teaching roles through the development of a Thrive GPS (goals plan) designed to identify/cultivate their mentee's spark(s) (passions/skills/strengths) and help them embrace challenges/balance personal growth as they grow their spark(s), fostering the extent of the thriving trajectory in adolescence to adulthood. The primary program goals are: 1) implement enhancements that incorporate research-based, intentional practices to strengthen positive youth development in mentoring matches; and, 2) participate in OJJDP funded evaluation to reduce research-to-practice gaps in youth mentoring contributing to future policy and practice.

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.

The Southeast Florida Regional Mentoring Enhancement Program is a collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Greater Miami (lead applicant), BBBS of Broward County, and BBBS of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, collectively offering 119 years experience in implementing one-on-one community-based, volunteer-driven mentoring founded on the Big Brother Big Sisters of America model. The demonstration project will enhance community-based mentoring in one site per agency with each site implementing a single program design that: 1) enhances interest-based matching for 40 new mentees, ages 12 - 14, per site (120 intervention, 105 control group); 2) trains mentors in advocacy/teaching through four additional post-match Building Better Bigs trainings addressing gaps in wraparound services; and, 3) supports/coaches mentors in expanding advocacy/teaching roles through the development of a Thrive GPS (goals plan) designed to identify/cultivate their mentee's spark(s) (passions/skills/strengths) and help them embrace challenges/balance personal growth as they grow their spark(s), fostering the extent of the thriving trajectory in adolescence to adulthood. The primary program goals are: 1) implement enhancements that incorporate research-based, intentional practices to strengthen positive youth development in mentoring matches; and, 2) participate in OJJDP funded evaluation to reduce research-to-practice gaps in youth mentoring contributing to future policy and practice.

NCA/NCF