Category 2: Multi-State Youth Mentoring Program for Youth in 17 States

The Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative, Category 2 (Multi-State Mentoring Program) provides funding to support mentoring organizations in their efforts to strengthen and/or expand their existing mentoring activities within local chapters or sub-awardees (in at least 5 states but fewer than 45 states) to reduce juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, truancy, and other problem and high-risk behaviors. FY 2015 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. Programs are encouraged to target their mentoring services to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth; children of parents on active military duty; children of incarcerated parents; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth; youth with disabilities; and youth in rural communities. This program is authorized by the FY15(OJJDP Ment. Oppor Yth) Pub. L. No. 113-235; 128 Stat. 2130, 2195.

Goodwill Industries International will implement GoodGuides, a multi-state mentoring program, with 22 Goodwill organizations in 17 states and 57 counties nationwide. This program will address the problems of poor school performance and dropping out, lack of employment skills and the myriad risk conditions that result in delinquency or high risk for delinquency in youth ages 12 to 17. These conditions include disabilities, family violence, and poverty, history of delinquency, being a sexual minority or other challenges like having a parent in the military. The goal of the program is to develop youth's career navigation skills while supporting school completion, preparation for post-secondary education and productive work. The purpose is to engage youth in a structured, supportive relationships with trusted mentors in individual, group or peer mentoring. The core outcomes of the program are to have 80 percent of youth who remain in the program for more than a year refrain from offending or re-offending and 80 percent will achieve one or more social competence goals. Mentees will explore career options with their mentor, while building social competence and bonding with a positive role model. The program will serve 1,400 youth by recruiting, training and supporting a minimum of 350 mentors to establish positive relationships. The program is built on the positive youth development research and family financial wellness approaches.
CA/NCF