Big brothers big sisters of wyoming seeks to enhance and expand mentoring services for children and youth impacted by opioids and other substance misuse

The Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded a $650,000 Project Grant under the Juvenile Mentoring Program (CFDA 16.726) to Greater Wyoming Big Brothers Big Sisters. The 3-year grant (2024-2027) aims to enhance and expand mentoring services for children and youth in Wyoming impacted by opioids and other substance misuse. Key project activities include statewide recruitment of youth and mentors, enhanced mentor training on substance misuse and mental health, targeted mentoring, and comprehensive support services such as case management, academic assistance, and group activities for youth and their families. Expected outcomes include improved mentor confidence, positive youth-mentor relationships, and reduced substance misuse and problem behaviors among participating youth.

The program will increase access to mentoring services for youth by expanding the capacity of existing mentoring programs to provide high-quality services to youth that reduce substance misuse, delinquency, or other problem behaviors. Intended beneficiaries are youth from wyoming who are 17 years old or younger at the time of enrollment and admission to the program and are currently misusing or dependent on substances, at-risk for misusing substances, and/or have family members who are currently misusing or dependent on substances. Project activities include statewide recruitment of youth and mentors; enhanced trainings for mentors including the topics of substance misuse, youth mental health, and suicide; targeted mentoring, and educational and supportive services (enhanced case management, referrals, academic assistance, and group activities) for youth and their families, including substance use treatment.expected outcomes include youth reporting a positive relationship with a caring adult, mentors reporting confidence in their abilities, parents reporting positive agency engagement, and a lower massachusetts youth screening instrument-second version score at exit than at intake.