The goals of this initiative are to improve outcomes, such as improved academic performance and reduced school dropout rates, for at-risk and high-risk youth, and reduce negative outcomes, including…

This federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (CFDA 16.726 Juvenile Mentoring Program) provides $1,000,000 over 36 months to Self Awareness And Recovery (SAR), a minority-owned non-profit organization, to improve outcomes for at-risk and high-risk youth in Los Angeles County through the provision of mentoring services.

The key objectives are to: 1) increase the number of at-risk or high-risk youth receiving mentoring services; 2) increase or maintain the number of screened and trained mentors; and 3) develop and implement program design enhancements aligned with research on effective mentoring approaches. SAR will deliver direct mentoring services to a minimum of 240 youth, recruit and train at least 1 facilitator, 4 mentors, and 30 peer mentors, and provide a combined total of 5,760 mentor-mentee match hours over the 36-month project period. SAR is partnering with the Lionheart Foundation to incorporate the evidence-based Power Source curriculum into their mentoring program.

The goals of this initiative are to improve outcomes, such as improved academic performance and reduced school dropout rates, for at-risk and high-risk youth, and reduce negative outcomes, including juvenile delinquency, substance misuse, and gang participation, through youth mentoring. Self awareness and recovery (SAR) will continue to support its existing mentoring matches through program completion. Combining the expertise and capabilities of community-based organizations (cbos), school districts, chief probation departments, students and their families, SAR will within a 36-month period: objective 1: increase or expand reach to the number of at-risk or high-risk youth receiving mentoring services. Objective 2: increase or maintain the number of screened and well-trained mentors, with an emphasis on ensuring the mentors selected reflect the youth they serve. Objective 3: develop and implement program design enhancements that align with research and evidence on effective mentoring approaches. SAR is the leading contractor with support of the lionheart foundation, who will provide the evidence-based curriculum, power source, and access to additional training to sars staff. SAR has reached out to three community-based organizations for support in referring youth. Self awareness and recovery has selected to work with youth who are in juvenile halls specifically LOS padrinos juvenile hall, including other juvenile halls, those youth who present as at-risk and high-risk such as dual system youth, and are referred by probation officers, school administrators, child welfare agencies, judges, and public defenders in a new jurisdiction, LOS angeles county. Besides incorporating power source, SAR will oversee the project design and implementation of its youth mentoring program by recruiting additional mentors, including peer mentors, and provide access to resources and additional supports to the mentees and their families.sars anticipated outcomes will deliver direct services to a minimum of 240 youth, who are at-risk or high-risk, in 36 months across one jurisdiction, LOS angeles county. At least one (1) facilitator, four (4) mentors and 30 peer mentors will be identified to provide mentoring within this time period. The combined total of hours for the 240 mentor-mentee matches in a 36-month period is 5,760.