Friends of the Children Prevention Project

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(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 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; youth with disabilities; youth with opioid/substance abuse problems; and youth in rural communities. This program is authorized and funded pursuant to Pub L. No. 115-141, 132 Stat. 348, 423.

The Friends of the Children Prevention Project will benefit children and youth who are at risk of delinquency, violence, substance abuse, school failure, and early parenting in at least nine states. Friends of the Children employs salaried, professional mentors, called “Friends”, and commits to youth for 12.5 years. The purpose of the project is to improve youth development outcomes for youth ages 4–19 and to strengthen Friends of the Children’s professional mentoring approach by implementing new program enhancements. The goals and objectives of the project are to (1) provide 12 hours/month of professional, individualized, goal-directed mentoring to youth who have been assessed as high risk for later antisocial behavior and delinquency; (2) strengthen Friends of the Children’s ability to help youth and families navigate useful drug, opioid, and alcohol prevention resources; (3) improve positive youth and family engagement with law enforcement; (4) integrate priority caregiver support strategies to improve youth outcomes and family stability; and (5) strengthen capacity of mentor training, monitoring, and support systems by developing a Continuous Mentor Quality Improvement System.

CA/NCF