On December 10, 2019, OJJDP hosted a public meeting of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The meeting highlighted OJJDP, Department of Labor, and Department of Housing and Urban Development programs that support mentoring services for at-risk and delinquent youth. In addition, the event featured testimonials from mentees on the positive impact mentoring can have on a young person’s growth and development.

OJJDP Associate Administrator James Antal reported that the Office has awarded nearly $957 million in grants to mentoring organizations between fiscal years (FYs) 2008 and 2019. In FY 2019 alone, through its Mentoring Opportunities for Youth initiative, the Office awarded more than $81 million in grants. OJJDP’s mentoring work focuses on improving the effectiveness of youth mentoring services. “It’s really focusing on quality and making sure that program mentors are properly trained, that they are supported, and that the [mentor-mentee] matches are of high quality,” said Mr. Antal. To enhance the quality of mentoring services, OJJDP's National Mentoring Resource Center provides training and technical assistance as well as a wealth of information and resources to mentoring practitioners. The center’s resources are developed and overseen by a board of nationally renowned researchers with expertise in what works in youth mentoring.

Jennifer Kemp, Director of Youth Services in the Department of Labor’s Office of Workforce Investment, offered a presentation on three DOL workforce development initiatives—Reentry Employment Opportunities, the YouthBuild program, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Youth program. These programs incorporate youth mentoring into an array of supportive services that include educational skills training, high school diploma or equivalency preparation, career exploration, and leadership development. “We know from our work . . . that mentoring does make a difference, and we do have better outcomes for youth who have been engaged in mentoring,” said Ms. Kemp.

Following Ms. Kemp’s presentation, Maria-Lana Queen, Liaison for Federal Interagency Youth Initiatives in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Office of Public and Indian Housing shared information about HUD programs that embrace youth mentoring approaches as one component in their overall service delivery. HUD awards funding to the nation’s more than 3,200 public housing authorities, which are primarily responsible for providing HUD-assisted housing. The housing authorities also provide an array of services to help low-income families achieve economic mobility and self-sufficiency. HUD’s Jobs Plus Initiative focuses on work readiness, job placement, and technology skills; the Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordination offers comprehensive case management and referral to services, including opportunities for positive youth development; ROSS for Education supports post-secondary education and financial literacy; and the Juvenile Reentry Assistance Program provides legal assistance to support justice-involved youth.

The meeting concluded with a panel discussion featuring two pairs of mentees and mentors who participate in OJJDP-supported national mentoring programs.

Frankie Luzio, a senior at the High School for Law and Justice in Houston, TX, is currently paired through Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) with mentor Christina Garza, a public affairs specialist in the FBI’s Houston field office. Frankie and other students from his high school visit the FBI field office once a month to get first-hand exposure to the FBI’s work and to engage with their mentors. The monthly visit includes presentation of FBI case studies and other activities as well as an opportunity for Ms. Garza and Frankie to talk informally over lunch. BBBS often organizes a fun group activity as well. Frankie said the monthly visit to the FBI gives him and his mentor “a chance to catch up on things, like how college applications are going and any questions I may have. . . . She has a lot of information.” The two share a bond that goes beyond academic and career planning. “It’s like catching up with a good friend,” Frankie said.

The panel discussion also included remarks from Anna Piccirilli, Director of Academic Success at Boys and Girls Clubs of Annapolis and one of her young mentees, Amira. Amira is in the fifth grade at Germantown (MD) Elementary School and a member of the Wiley H. Bates Boys and Girls Club in Annapolis. She goes to the club almost every day and has participated in a wealth of activities, including STEM Mentoring, Smart Girls, Healthy Habits, and Rooted in Reading. “My favorite part is getting to spend time with Ms. Anna and her helping me with homework and problems I have going on at home and problems I have with people at Boys and Girls Club,” said Amira. “You get to do different fun activities and your homework. If you’re struggling with your homework, there’s always somebody there to help you.”