Youth Averted from Delinquency (YAD): Improving Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth Outcomes through Mentoring

The Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative, Category 3 (Mentoring Programs for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System) provides funding to support youth mentoring organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a juvenile justice agency. The focus is to provide mentoring services to those youth screened as being low risk to public safety by a juvenile justice agency as part of an overall diversion approach with a goal of rehabilitation and accountability. This program is authorized and funded pursuant to Pub. L. No. 116-93, 133 Stat. 2317, 2410.

BCFS Health and Human Services (BCFS HHS) proposes Youth Averted from Delinquency (YAD), a mentoring program for juvenile justice system engaged youth, ages 10-17, in Kerr County, Texas. BCFS HHS YAD will serve 90 youth across three years, the majority of whom live in high poverty, rural communities and QOZs. BCFS HHS YAD’s goal is to improve outcomes for juvenile justice engaged youth through mentoring services. BCFS HHS YAD operates from the theory of change that youth recidivism and victimization will reduce if youth a) trust in safe peers and adults; b) are supported by an engaged and empowered family; and c) can take control of their body’s response to trauma and make informed choices. The program’s objectives, therefore, are as follows: 1. Build family-based resilience, 2. Connect youth with a network of safe adults, and 3. Help youth reduce trauma-related behaviors. To pursue these objectives, BCFS HHS proposes to use both individual and group mentoring. Mentors serve as paraprofessionals, receiving intensive training and match supervision. All personnel and mentors in the program use evidence-based relational interventions. All families participate in evidence-based parenting education, which coincides with mentor activities. Additionally, families are supported with an Action Plan, reinforced by the mentor. BCFS HHS YAD provides family-focused events that engage law enforcement to participate. Youth remain in the program for at least one year. BCFS HHS YAD has partnered with Kerr County Juvenile Probation to implement this project, continuing a long-standing partnership in operation since 2007. CA/NCF