PathStone Mentoring Opportunities for Youth

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 2017 funding will address the factors that can lead to or serve as a catalyst for delinquency or other problem behaviors in youth.

PathStone’s Multistate Mentoring Program (PMMP) will expand quality mentoring services to at-risk and high-risk youth ages 14 to 17 living in five communities: Bridgeton, NJ; Rochester, NY; Bowling Green, OH; Reading, PA; and Bayamón, PR. PMMP’s goal is to improve outcomes for at-risk and high-risk youth, including academic performance, school retention, and juvenile justice system avoidance, through one-on-one and group mentoring to increase youth’s resiliency to risk factors. PMMP is a Positive Youth Development model incorporating recruitment, screening, training, matching, monitoring and support, and closure that meet or exceed the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring. Enhancements to those elements will include creating and implementing training to increase mentor awareness of trauma-informed practices, and increasing parent/caregiver engagement through resource workshops, joint trainings, communications, and referrals. PMMP is designed to use evidence-based practices, engage families, and leverage community resources to increase the effectiveness of 1-year mentoring relationships that provide weekly support for youth. Pro-social and enrichment activities, case management, and partner collaboration will strengthen youth connections to family, school, community, and peers. Youth services will include life skills training, tutoring and remediation, community service, career exploration, and career pathway planning. PMMP will reach 215 at-risk and high-risk youth ages 14-17, with approximately 43 youth served in each of the five communities. Specific program goals include: 90 percent of youth do not offend/reoffend while participating; 75 percent of youth exhibit a desired change in behavior (reflecting increased resiliency/protective factors, including vocational/educational competency); 60 percent of mentors demonstrate increased awareness of trauma-informed practices; and 50 percent of parents/caretakers access a training or community resource.

CA/NCF