Close Up Foundation''s Model Citizen Mentoring Program will partner over 1,000 youth from 15 different high schools across the country with mentors where they will engage in civic education activities

The Multi-State Mentoring Program provides funding to support established mentoring organizations in their efforts to strengthen and/or expand their existing mentoring activities within local chapters or sub-awardees in five or more states to reduce juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, truancy, and other problem and high-risk behaviors. FY 2014 funding will address the factors that can lead to or serve as a catalyst for delinquency or other problem behaviors in underserved youth, including youth in high-risk environments, children of incarcerated parents and tribal youth. The program is comprised of three categories: Category 1 for organizations implementing one-on-one mentoring programs, Category 2 for Group mentoring programs and Category 3 for a combination of both one-on-one and group mentoring.

The Close Up Foundation will implement and expand its Model Citizen Mentoring Program, an enhanced program model derived from Close Up's community-based initiatives. It is a structured group mentoring program that provides small groups of at-risk high school sophomores with positive adult mentors who connect with them in activities oriented towards community service and civic education. Through the Community Mentoring Program students are taught valuable skills to help them enter the workforce, and are given the essential support needed in order to improve academic performance. This is accomplished by building positive mentor relationships and implementing a structured program to help students establish and achieve goals, select alternatives to participating in drug and alcohol use, and instill a sense of responsibility to themselves and to their communities. Mentoring services are provided through four components: 1) civic education; 2) community-based mentoring activities; 3) community action projects; and 4) a "Community Action Project Showcase". The target population is at-risk, underserved high-school sophomores who have a history of truancy, are living in high-risk neighborhoods, and/or have been identified by parents or teachers as being at-risk for delinquent behavior. This program will include 15 Program Coordinators, 250 mentors, and 1000 youth participants from 15 high schools across seven states: New Orleans, LA; Miami, FL; Doral, FL; Chicago, IL; Tulsa, OK; Los Angeles, CA; Washington DC; and Providence, RI. The grantee will develop a "Best Practices Guide" which it will provide to OJJDP at the end of the program as a grant deliverable. CA/NCF