Goodwill industries of upstate/midlands south carolina (goodwill) will implement the youth mentoring program in greenville county, south carolina

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded a $500,000 Project Grant under the Juvenile Mentoring Program (CFDA 16.726) to Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina, Inc. The grant will fund the implementation of a Youth Mentoring Program in Greenville County, South Carolina from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The program will build on Goodwill's previous GoodGuides mentoring initiative by partnering with New Mind Health and Care to provide credible messenger mentoring, leadership development, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy to youth at high risk of offending or re-offending, as well as those with high exposure to trauma. The goal is to improve positive outcomes for youth engaged with the juvenile justice system or at high risk of involvement, through mentoring to build positive relationships, complete school, prepare for post-secondary education and training, acquire leadership skills, and become positive role models in their communities.

The youth mentoring program model builds on best practices and evidence-based approaches to mentoring, job readiness/training, and community partnerships that goodwill industries of upstate/midlands south carolina implemented through the goodguides program from 2009 to 2022. Goodwill will build on the goodguides program model by partnering with new mind health and care to provide credible messenger mentoring, leadership development, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy to program participants who are at a higher risk of offending or reoffending as well as youth with higher exposure to trauma. By expanding and enhancing the goodguides program through the youth mentoring program in partnership with new mind health and care, goodwill will provide a solid model for connecting youth with success and avoiding delinquency or entering the juvenile justice system. The overarching goal of the youth mentoring program is to improve positive outcomes for youth engaged with the juvenile justice system or at the highest risk for justice system involvement through mentoring to build positive relationships, complete school, prepare for postsecondary education and training, acquire leadership skills, and become positive role models in their communities. The program aims to engage youth in structured, supportive relationships with trusted adult volunteer mentors in individual, group, or peer settings. Mentees will explore career options with their mentor while building social competence and bonding with a positive role model.