Category 2: CCUSA Multi-State Mentoring Program

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.

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), will provide evidence-based trauma informed, one-on-one mentoring services to a total of at least 1,250 at risk youth age 9-17 through a collaboration of 25 Catholic Charities agencies that will implement this program in 20 states. The program will target children and youth who may have experienced childhood trauma. The purpose of this program is to prevent juvenile delinquency, truancy, drug use, gang involvement, teenage pregnancy and other high risk activities by fostering resilience, through the development of healthy attachment, self-regulation and competency in the mentees. Through this funding, CCUSA will hire and train 26 mentoring coordinators so that they can develop into a community of practice providing both peer and expert technical assistance; recruit, assess and orient participating youth; develop and strengthen existing partnerships with other community organizations that will help with recruitment and resourcing client families; recruit, screen and train 1,200 adult volunteer mentors; make youth/adult matches based on interests, preferences, needs and skills; monitor and support those matched with additional training, resources, case management, suggested activities and group gatherings; and facilitate positive match closures. The structured mentoring will include all of the elements of effective practice including weekly two hour one-on-one mentoring sessions for no less than 12 months for each youth. Progress will be measured by counting the number of successful matches; community partnerships; effective closures; and goal achievement. CA/NCF