This is an archive of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP's) electronic newsletter OJJDP News @ a Glance. The information in this archived resource may be outdated and links may no longer function. Visit our website at https://www.ojjdp.gov for current information.
January | February 2015

OJJDP Unveils National Mentoring Resource Center
Screenshot of the National Mentoring Resource Center website

OJJDP has established the National Mentoring Resource Center to promote effective, evidence-based youth mentoring. Developed in partnership with MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, the center’s three components—a website, no-cost training and technical assistance, and a research board—collectively support the efforts of the mentoring field.

The website offers comprehensive resource, reference, and training materials including a “What Works in Mentoring” section and examples of evidence-based programs and practices.

Customized training and technical assistance is also available to help programs meet national standards for high-quality, evidence-based mentoring. Applicants may apply for no-cost assistance in areas including mentor-mentee recruitment, screening, training, matching and match closure, monitoring and support, partnership development, and program design, planning, management, operations, and evaluation.

The research board, chaired by David DuBois, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois–Chicago, is composed of prominent experts in youth mentoring practice areas, such as program models, settings for implementation, and outcomes for specific populations. Guided by the standards and protocols of the Office of Justice Programs’ CrimeSolutions.gov and OJJDP's Model Programs Guide, the National Mentoring Resource Center Research Board conducts program evaluations and reviews the resources offered on the website.

Screenshot of National Mentoring Resource center website.Announcing the launch of the center at the 2015 National Mentoring Summit (see “OJJDP Co-Hosts National Mentoring Summit” in this issue), OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee said the center will enhance the capacity of mentoring organizations to develop, implement, and expand effective programs and practices. “Share the site with your colleagues and trainees, read about how to design a mentor training, learn how to manage relationships, get tips on mentor-mentee matching, and learn how to effectively mentor kids with special needs,” said Mr. Listenbee.

OJJDP has a long-standing commitment to high-quality, evidenced-based mentoring and has awarded approximately $287 million in mentoring grants since 2011 to fund programs focused on the special needs of target populations, research, and capacity building of mentoring organizations.

Resources:

Visit the National Mentoring Resource Center and apply for technical assistance on the center’s website.

Read the press release announcing the launch of the center.