Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2015, $2,000,000)
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.
The National Urban League (NUL), will implement Project Ready: Mentor, a group and peer mentoring program in Urban League affiliates across 14 states (20 cities) serving a minimum of 840 youth annually (42 youth per affiliate per grant year). The project will provide services to underserved, disconnected, court-involved and vulnerable urban youth (ages 11-17) to enable them to graduate high school ready for college or work without remediation by expanding the supply of well-trained mentors, creating and sustaining supportive relationships between mentors, mentees and families, and directing those relationships toward reducing risky behaviors. Youth readiness to succeed after high school is paramount in this project design. The Project model includes: a strong emphasis on Counselor-Advocates; individualized development plans; meaningful parental engagement, development of relationships with caring adults; intentionally building resilience and wellness (physical, mental and emotional) and meaningful behavioral, career and education outcomes. Outcomes will be tracked via database, program observation and surveys and include, but are not limited to: the number of youth and mentors retained in the program; number of trained mentors demonstrating an increase in knowledge of mentoring and positive youth development; percentage of youth who complete all program requirements; number of youth who do not offend or re-offend; and the number of youth who demonstrate increased social competence and perception of social support and efficacy. CA/NCF