DOJ Grants for Youth Mentoring

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) recently announced two grant programs to support mentoring programs that target at-risk youth.

The FY 2011 Multi-State Mentoring Initiative is targeted to mentoring programs with a strong local presence. Private nonprofit and forprofit organizations that have been in existence for at least three years with programs in five or more states for at least a full calendar year are eligible to apply. National organizations (defined having active programs in at least 45 states) are ineligible. Further, as the notice states, eligible applicants must demonstrate that state and local officials recognize them as a "viable force in addressing youth issues through their mentoring programs." In addition, applicants must demonstrate current relationships and agreements with existing youth serving agencies "to create the necessary network to meet the individual needs of the youth constituents." Award recipients must target an at-risk or high-risk population (as defined in the notice) younger than 18 years of age. Funding is to support the capacity of mentoring programs in the following areas: (1) augment the involvement of and services for the mentoring participants' parents; (2) expand structured activities and opportunities for the mentors and mentoring participant(s); and (3) increase the availability of ongoing mentor training and support. Applications are due February 28, 2011.

The FY 2011 National Mentoring Program targets national organizations, defined as having an active program or programs with a financial relationship with affiliates in at least 45 states. However, while the grant targets national organizations, the notice emphasizes the importance of meeting local needs. The purpose of the program is for applicants to propose the enhancement or expansion of initiatives that will assist in the development and maturity of community programs providing mentoring services to high-risk populations that are underserved due to location, shortage of mentors, special physical or mental challenges of the targeted population, or other situations identified by the community in need of mentoring services. Applications submitted by national headquarter organizations are required to subaward 90% of the federal grant funds to a least 75% of states. Applications are due February 28, 2011.

For more information, visit the OJJDP here.