4-H Awarded $5 Million to Continue Expansion of National Mentoring Program

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has awarded a $5 million grant to National 4-H Council in continued support of the 4-H National Mentoring program. The grant comes as a part of the OJJDP's national effort to strengthen, expand and implement youth mentoring activities nationwide to improve the lives of millions of young Americans. This is the third round of funding that Council has received under OJJDP's National Mentoring Program, including $5 million in 2010 and $5.3 million in 2011.

This generous grant will provide funding to facilitate 4-H mentoring programs in nearly every state in the nation, with each program focused on addressing areas at increased risk for youth delinquency.

Across the country, state 4-H programs will select from three identified best practice 4-H youth mentoring programs to implement in their local communities:

• 4-H Mentoring: Youth & Families with Promise, created by Utah State University;
• 4-H Tech Wizards, created by Oregon State University; and
• 4-H Life, created by the University of Missouri. 

"This continued award demonstrates 4-H's incredible ability to make a difference in the lives of at-risk populations across the nation," said Donald T. Floyd Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO.  "Through 4-H National Mentoring programs, all 50 states will have the opportunity to replicate academic research-based 4-H programs that have been proven to produce positive outcomes including reduced school drop-out rates and strengthened family relationships."

In 2011, the 4-H National Mentoring Program served nearly 6,500 youth, yielding an 89% noted positive behavior change in areas such as school attendance, family relationships and positive perception of social support. Nearly 1,600 mentors participated with their matched mentees, a 1:4 mentoring ratio through this program. The program has also been successful for mentors, securing an 82% mentor retention rate.

About 4-H
4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters at the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA. 4-H programs are implemented by the nation's111 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices in every county across the country.  Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org.

SOURCE 4-H

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