4-H National Mentoring Program

In partnership with Land-Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System, National 4-H Council (heretofore 'Council') proposes to strengthen and expand mentoring programs for 15,000 youth through three 4-H Programs of Distinction: 4-H Mentoring: Youth & Families with Promise (4-H YFP), 4-H Tech Wizards, and 4-H Living Interactive Family Education (4-H LIFE). All incorporate positive youth development core principles to improve the well-being of at-risk youth ages 5-17, especially underserved populations of Tribal, Latino, African American youth; children of military parents; children of incarcerated parents; and youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

4-H YFP is a prevention program that targets youth who have below-average school performance, poor social skills and/or weak family bonds with one-on-one mentoring and family strengthening activities. 4-H Tech Wizards engages underserved youth in an interactive group mentoring program that focuses on science, technology, engineering, math education and after school tutoring through mentoring and community service. 4-H LIFE utilizes parenting classes, 4-H club meetings, and group mentoring to strengthen parent/child bonds, develop leadership and decision making skills in the children of incarcerated parents or in the juvenile justice system and improve the quality of family visits through shared 4-H Club activities.

Strategies for engaging mentees and mentors include volunteer recruitment (including veterans), parent involvement, ongoing training for mentors, family nights, summer camps, 4-H Club meetings, and other structures activities. An estimated 15,000 youth ($1,000 per youth cost) will be served in up to 48 states and the District of Columbia.
CA/NCF