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

This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law. This program furthers the Department's mission by providing grants and cooperative agreements for research and evaluation activities to organizations that OJJDP designates.

American Institutes for Research (Category 2) is evaluating the implementation and impact of the YMCA Reach & Rise mentoring model enhanced with cognitive behavioral techniques by its practitioner partner, the Young Men’s Christian Association 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 have been selected for implementation of the programmatic enhancements, and another 8 sites are part of the evaluation and are using their current BAU mentoring model. The study is randomly assigning 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 is comparing 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 programs to meet the needs of high-risk youth and prevent future system involvement.

NCA/NCF