Leadership Foundations Mentoring2Thrive (M2T) 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. 116-6, 133 Stat. 13, 115. Leadership Foundations youth mentoring project, Mentoring2Thrive (M2T), will support and train 1,000 caring adults to become mentors matched with 3,000 youth through 26 local leadership foundations (LLF) in 21 states. The target population is youth 17 years old or younger at risk for delinquency or juvenile justice system involvement and youth with incarcerated parents, opioid/substance abuse problems, and/or living in rural communities. M2T objectives for youth include decreasing risk factors for substance abuse and increasing protective factors and resilience through mentoring and connecting youth to resources such as health and social services, prosocial community activities, caring/supportive adults, and neighborhood resources, including law enforcement agencies. M2T program enhancements include (1) integrating the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation Prevention program for LLF staff, mentors, mentees, and families to decrease drug use; (2) helping LLFs build stronger referral networks for connecting youth to needed services; and (3) improving data systems and trainings to better evaluate youth outcomes and increase LLFs’ alignment to the evidence-informed Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring (EEPM). A combination of training, M2T regional coaches who support LLF programs, assistance to LLFs in increasing EEPM alignment, and improved data systems will enable LLFs to successfully meet M2T objectives. Funds will not be used to support research. CA/NCF