4-H National Mentoring Program

The Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative, Category 1 (National Mentoring Program) provides funding to support national mentoring organizations (those with local chapters or sub-awardees in at least 45 states) in their efforts to strengthen and/or expand their existing mentoring activities within local chapters or sub-awardees in at least 38 states to reduce juvenile delinquency, drug abuse (specifically opioid abuse), truancy, and other problem and high-risk behaviors. FY 2018 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 required to target American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, and are also highly encouraged to target their mentoring services to children of parents on active military duty; children of incarcerated parents; youth with disabilities; youth impacted by opioids; and youth in rural communities. This program is authorized and funded pursuant to Pub. L. No. 115-141, 132 Stat. 348, 423.

In partnership with land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System, National 4-H Council will strengthen and expand mentoring programs for youth across America that address factors that can lead to or serve as a catalyst for delinquency or other problem behaviors in youth. 4-H's National Mentoring Program incorporates positive youth development core principles to improve the well-being of youth ages 17 or younger identified as at-risk or high risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system. Services are targeted towards American Indian and Alaska Native youth both on and off reservations, children of parents on active military duty, children of incarcerated parents, youth with disabilities, youth in rural communities, youth impacted by opioids, and other underserved youth. 4-H mentoring program models that will be implemented are Youth & Families with Promise (4-H YFP), 4-H Tech Wizards, 4-H Youth Futures: College Within Reach, and 4-H Health Rocks! Mentoring. Program goals are to: 1) provide one-on-one and/or group mentoring services tailored to the needs of the identified at-risk or high risk youth and 2) implement enhanced practices that further align with research and evidence on effective mentoring approaches. Strategies for engaging mentors and mentees include volunteer recruitment, family engagement, ongoing training for mentors, family nights, summer camps, 4-H Club meetings, and other structured activities. Performance measures include the number of youth served, the number of mentors trained and retained, and percentage of youth completing the program and exhibiting desired outcomes. Participation and outcome data will be reported by sites. CA/NCF