Mentoring Youth for Success: ASPIRA Multi-State Mentoring ProgramOJJDP FY 15 Multi-State Mentoring ProgramsASPIRA Association, Inc.

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 ASPIRA Association, through this funding, will serve at-risk youth and strengthen ASPIRA's mentoring program. The program seeks to reduce the incidence of gangs, delinquency, and drop-out rates and increase academic achievement among at-risk middle and high school youth in inner-city, low-income, communities. ASPIRA will implement a high-quality mentoring program based on integrated research and evidence based practices with ASPIRA Associates in five states over the grant period. ASPIRA will identify and recruit 900 at-risk, high-risk middle and high school youth to participate in the program through one-on-one and group mentoring, of which 98% will have completed the 12 month evidence-based program. The program will also recruit, screen, match and train 450 mentors through structured mentoring experiences. The mentoring program structure will include a Saturday Academy and an After-School Program for a minimum of 60 students per year and 120 over a three-year period per site. Mentoring will take place in classrooms at the target schools. The Saturday Academy will provide three hours of structured learning activities, for a minimum of eighteen Saturdays, in the fall and spring. The After School Program provides three hours of structured learning activities, per day, for a minimum of 40 days, in the fall and spring. CA/NCF