Texas Mentoring Program

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Team Focus, Inc. will utilize the FY 2009 Congressionally Selected Award to establish a youth mentoring program based in the State of Texas. Specifically, this project seeks to improve the lives of 120 fatherless at-risk males, ages 10-18, by providing a year-round, comprehensive mentoring program for targeted youth in Dallas/Ft. Worth and Austin, Texas.

The program will use a gender-specific three-prong mentoring approach consisting of summer leadership camps, multi-faceted educational centers/academic support, and a network of year-round mentoring support services and activities. The goal is to provide positive male role models and mentoring services in a safe environment focusing on positive character-building and offering gender-specific strategies for accomplishment. Success is tracked through report cards/progress reports, pre- and post- surveys, staff observations, monthly reports, semi-annual reports, and mother/guardian surveys. Intended outcomes include a reduction in number of fatherless at-risk young males entering the Texas juvenile justice system, and the development of fatherless at-risk young males into productive responsible adults.

NCA/NCF