4-H Awarded $7.2 Million to Support National Mentoring Program

Youth development professionals to participate in training program during National Mentoring Month

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has awarded a $7.2 million grant to National 4-H Council (Council) in 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 fourth round of funding that 4-H has received under OJJDP's National Mentoring Program, including $5 million in 2012 and $5.3 million in 2011.

As part of the initiative, Council will host its annual 4-H National Mentoring Program Implementation Training for 4-H program staff from January 6-9, 2014 and participate in a number of other national mentoring programs, which will coincide with National Mentoring Month. The training will take place at National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

More than 190 participants representing 46 states and the District of Columbia will take part in the four-day training including 4-H Cooperative Extension staff ranging from county agents to youth development specialists. During the opening session, Jeff Slowikowski, acting deputy administrator for policy and acting associate administrator for Child Protection Division, OJJDP, will provide remarks on the

4-H/OJJDP partnership. In addition, Dr. Lisa Lauxman, director, Division of Youth & 4-H, 4-H National Headquarters, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), will bring greetings from NIFA/USDA.     

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 of increased risk for youth delinquency. Across the country, state 4-H programs will select from three proven effective 4-H youth mentoring programs to implement in their local communities, which will also serve as the foundation for the staff training:

• 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 significant grant gives 4-H an incredible opportunity to make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth across the nation," said Jennifer Sirangelo, National 4-H Council President & CEO. "Through 4-H National Mentoring programs, 4-H program staff will have the opportunity to replicate proven 4-H programs that are producing positive outcomes in underserved communities across the country including reduced school drop-out rates and strengthened family relationships."

In 2012, the 4-H National Mentoring Program served over 8,000 youth, resulting in significant outcomes in areas such as family relationships and perception of social support and social competence. Nearly 3,000 mentors participated with their matched mentees, a 1:4 mentoring ratio through this program. The program has also been successful for mentors, securing an 80 percent mentor retention rate.

About 4-H
4-H is a community of seven million young people around the world learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the United States, 4-H programs are implemented by 109 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension through more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, 4-H programs operate through independent, country-led organizations in more than 50 countries.

Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H and Twitter at https://twitter.com/4H.

Contact: Kimberly M. West, National 4-H Council, 301-951-3078, [email protected]

SOURCE National 4-H Council