Cognitive Behavioral Mentoring: Investigation of Research-Informed Enhancements to Program Practices

American Institutes for Research is evaluating the implementation and impact of the YMCA Reach and Rise mentoring model enhanced with CBT techniques by its practitioner partner,YMCA of San Francisco. The project's goal is to rigorously evaluate (1) the effects of the enhancements of mentoring relationship quality and youth outcomes, including the prevention of delinquency and juvenile justice involvement and how and for whom these benefits are yielded; (2) the implementation of the enhancements; and (3) the costs of the enhancements relative to their benefits. A total of 25 sites will be selected for implementation of the programmatic enhancements, and another 8 sites will be part of the evaluation and will use their current BAU mentoring model. The study will randomly assign all eligible enrollees in the 33 sites (approximately 2,640 demographically diverse youth) to be matched with a mentor (in the enhanced treatment or BAU groups) or be placed on a waiting list. The design will compare the effectiveness between enhanced mentoring and no mentoring and between BAU mentoring and no mentoring. In addition, this design will allow for a comparison between BAU mentoring and enhanced mentoring. Data collection will include surveys of parents, youth, mentors, and staff conducted at baseline and again 12 months after baseline, and juvenile justice records data. A process evaluation will assess the extent and quality of implementation, participant exposure and response to enhancement activities, and differentiation of the enhancements from existing practices. A cost-effectiveness analysis will estimate the benefits of the enhancements relative to their costs. Findings will be disseminated through briefs directed toward practitioners, policymakers, and funders; publications in academic journals; and interim and final reports to OJJDP. The study will deepen understanding of how to more effectively leverage and bring to scale innovative techniques that better equip mentoring to meet the needs of high-risk youth, preventing future system involvement.

Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements- 2 CFR 200.210(a)(14).

NCA/NCF

Research has identified both mentoring and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as effective delinquency prevention and intervention approaches. Yet, limited inquiry has been conducted to identify the extent to which CST-infused enhancements to mentor programming can make a difference in the lives of high-risk youth. To develop new knowledge in this area, American Institutes for Research will partner with YMCA's Reach & Rise program to evaluate the implementation and impact of CBT enhancements including pre-match training modules for mentors on CBT techniques, strategies for augmenting the youth's growth (i.e., case management) plan, mentor-support targeted "check-in" tools, and a CBT parent education and support component. The project's goal is to rigorously evaluate (1) the effects of the enhancements of mentoring relationship quality and youth outcomes, including the prevention of delinquency and juvenile justice involvement and how and for whom these benefits are yielded; (2)implementation of the enhancements; and (3) costs of the enhancements relative to their benefits. The study will deepen understanding of how to more effectively leverage and bring to scale innovative techniques that better equip mentoring to meet the needs of high-risk youth, preventing future system involvement. The Practitioner-Researcher Partnership in Cognitive Behavioral Mentoring Program will support the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative mentoring approaches for youth at high risk for delinquency/juvenile and criminal justice involvement or victimization and trauma. These mentoring approaches must incorporate practices that are informed by research on cognitive behavioral interventions and techniques. The program will fund a partnership between a practitioner/service provider and an evaluator/researcher. CA/NCF