[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 144 (Thursday, July 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18447]


[Federal Register: July 28, 1994]


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Part V





Department of Justice





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Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention



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Office of Justice Programs; Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP) 
Guidelines; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention


Office of Justice Programs; Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP) 
Guidelines

AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention.

ACTION: Notice of the Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP) Guidelines and 
Application Procedures.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
(OJJDP) is publishing this Notice of Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP) 
Guidelines. Part G of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
Act of 1974, as amended by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention Amendments of 1992, established the authority for this 
program and Congress appropriated $4,000,000 for Fiscal Year 1994. JUMP 
will support one-to-one mentoring programs for youth at-risk of 
educational failure, dropping out of school, or involvement in 
delinquency activities. The goals of JUMP are to reduce juvenile 
delinquency and gang participation, improve academic performance and 
reduce the dropout rate through the use of adult mentors for at-risk 
youth. Both local education agencies (LEA) and public/private non-
profit organizations may apply for a grant that covers a period of time 
up to but not exceeding three years, but there must be collaboration 
with the LEA when the primary applicant is a public/private non-profit 
agency and collaboration with the public/private non-profit when the 
LEA is the primary applicant. Individual awards will range from $60,000 
to $180,000 for up to a three-year project and budget period. 
Application narratives may not exceed 25 double-spaced pages. Program 
requirements are set forth in this Notice.

DATES: Applicants are requested to submit the original, signed 
application (Standard Form 424) and four copies to OJJDP. The due date 
for applications is September 14, 1994. Applications must be received 
by mail or delivered by 5 P.M. e.d.t. on or before that date.

ADDRESSES: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 633 
Indiana Avenue N.W., Room 758, Washington, D.C. 20531.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Program inquiries can be addressed to 
Betty M. Chemers, Program Manager, Special Emphasis Division (202) 307-
5914.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is a component of the Office of Justice 
Programs in the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1992, the Juvenile 
Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended (JJDP Act) 
was reauthorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
Amendments of 1992. These Amendments established a new Part G Mentoring 
Program, providing three-year grants to, or in partnership with, local 
education agencies for the implementation of mentoring programs 
designed to link at-risk youth with responsible adults to discourage 
youth involvement in criminal behavior and violence. This Notice sets 
forth the guidelines for the Part G Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP). 
An OJJDP Application Kit containing an application form (Standard Form 
424), the OJJDP Peer Review Guideline, OJJDP Competition and Peer 
Review Procedures, and other supplemental information relevant to the 
application process can be obtained by calling the Juvenile Justice 
Clearinghouse, toll-free, 24 hours a day, at (800) 638-8736.
    JUMP applications will undergo peer review as part of the selection 
process. In order to facilitate peer review, OJJDP requests that each 
applicant submit a Notice of Intent to Apply to Betty M. Chemers, 
Program Manager, Special Emphasis Division, OJJDP, 633 Indiana Avenue, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20531 by August 12, 1994.

Guideline for the Juvenile Mentoring Program

    Purpose: To support one-to-one mentoring programs for youth at risk 
of educational failure, dropping out of school, or involvement in 
delinquency activities.
    Background: Part G of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention Act of 1974, as amended (JJDP Act), establishes authority 
for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) 
to fund a new Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP). For Fiscal Year 1994, 
Congress appropriated $4,000,000 to implement this program.
    Mentoring, as the term is currently used, can be defined as a one-
to-one relationship between a pair of unrelated individuals, usually of 
different ages, which takes place on a regular basis over an extended 
period of time. It is usually characterized by a ``special bond of 
mutual commitment'' and ``an emotional character of respect, loyalty 
and identification.'' (Hamilton, 1990.)
    As a movement, mentoring has its roots in the closing decades of 
the 19th century with ``Friendly Visitors'' who would serve as role 
models for children of the poor. In 1904, Ernest K. Coulter founded a 
new movement which utilized ``Big Brothers'' to reach out to children 
who were in need of socialization, firm guidance and human connection 
with mainstream adults. The resulting program, Big Brother/Big Sisters 
of America, continues to operate today as the largest mentoring 
organization of its kind.
    Mentoring underwent a second reincarnation in the 1970's as 
corporations heralded the concept as one which fosters achievement. 
Mentoring was seen as a particularly critical ingredient to success on 
the corporate ladder (Freedman, 1992).
    Within the past ten years, mentoring has taken on a new dimension 
and a new target group, disadvantaged children and youth. It has 
emerged as a promising approach for enriching children's lives; 
addressing the isolation of youth from adult contact; and providing, on 
a one-to-one basis, support and advocacy to children who need it. 
Mentoring is also recognized as an important vehicle for harnessing the 
talents of volunteers to address the problems of poverty (Freedman, 
1992).
    Congress has recognized the potential of mentoring as a tool for 
addressing two critical concerns: poor school performance and 
delinquent activity. Accordingly, OJJDP is making funds available for 
mentoring programs that specifically address these concerns. Congress 
also has recognized the importance of school collaboration in mentoring 
programs, whether as a primary applicant or in partnership with other 
public/non-profit private entities.
    Goals of Mentoring Programs:
    To reduce juvenile delinquency and gang participation;
    To improve academic performance; and
    To reduce the dropout rate through the use of mentors for at-risk 
youth.
    Objectives:
    Provide general guidance to at-risk youth;
    Promote personal and social responsibility among at-risk youth;
    Increase at-risk youth participation in and enhance their ability 
to benefit from elementary and secondary education;
    Discourage at-risk youths' use of illegal drugs and firearms, 
involvement in violence, and other delinquent activity;
    Discourage involvement of at-risk youth in gangs; and
    Encourage at-risk youths' participation in service and community 
activity
    Program Strategy: Applicants may submit funding requests for 
project periods up to but not exceeding three years. OJJDP encourages 
new programs to apply as well as those which have proven track records 
of implementing programs and a desire to expand their programs in 
accordance with these guidelines. All applicants must address the 
following elements in their application.
    1. The Nature of the Partnership with Local Educational Agencies
    Both local education agencies (LEA) and public/private non-profit 
organizations may apply. When public/private non-profit agencies are 
the primary applicant, their programs must involve collaboration with 
the LEA. Likewise an LEA must collaborate with a relevant public/
private non-profit agency. Because two goals of this program are to 
improve academic performance and reduce the dropout rate, applications 
must contain written assurance from the LEA that it will agree to 
provide academic records in accordance with its own regulations for use 
in carrying out a funded program and that it will cooperate to the 
fullest extent possible with a national program evaluator. Another 
example of the form this collaboration would take would include the 
designation of a school employee to be a school coordinator. Suggested 
responsibilities might include assisting with the selection of mentees, 
advising on the academic needs of the mentee, coordinating meetings, 
providing academic records when needed, and notifying mentors of the 
inability of mentees to meet.
    2. Target Population
    Programs are to be targeted to at-risk youth. These are youth at 
risk of educational failure, dropping out of school, or involvement in 
delinquent activities. Priority will be given to programs involving at-
risk youth in high crime areas, programs which have 60% or more of 
their youth eligible to receive Chapter I funds under the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and programs which have a 
considerable number of youth who drop out of school each year.
    3. Program Goals and Design
    These must be clearly stated. The applicant must show how the 
proposed program will meet the goals and objectives defined earlier. 
The role of the mentor, the mentoring site, and specific implementation 
steps should be provided. These include organizational commitment, 
mentor recruitment, mentor orientation, mentor screening and training, 
youth selection and orientation, matching, monitoring, mentor support, 
and evaluation. Criteria for mentor termination should be specified. 
Each funding partner and program participant's responsibilities should 
be spelled out up front: local educational agency, non-profit public/
private agency, business, etc., mentors, mentees and mentees' parents. 
At a minimum, programs must specify that each individual mentor one 
child for a period of at least a year. It is also recommended that 
mentor-mentee contact not be less than four hours a month, preferably 
scheduled weekly.
    4. Recruitment, Selection and Screening of Mentors
    Only programs using adult mentors qualify. An adult is defined as 
being 21 years or older. Efforts to enlist mentors who are responsible 
adults such as law enforcement officers, persons with local businesses, 
and persons with community-based organizations should be made.
    All prospective employees and volunteers who would have contact 
with youth must be screened. Each program is required to have a written 
screening policy that would be implemented with great care and applied 
consistently to all mentors. At a minimum, this policy shall require 
the names of two to three character references (at least one work 
reference) and the applicant's consent to check his/her name through 
criminal and child abuse records. A written form for reference checks 
should be used and kept on file.
    Background searches should include investigations as may appear 
appropriate under the circumstances and as required by applicable 
statute or regulation. For example, programs involving young mentees 
and contacts/activities that do not occur at the school or work site or 
as part of a larger group should require criminal history checks on all 
matched volunteers from local, state or national law enforcement 
authorities, where legally permissible. In general, no background 
information obtained from screening is an automatic bar to participate 
unless otherwise provided by statute or regulation. A candidate may be 
disqualified in order to reasonably protect youth from physical, 
psychological and/or sexual abuse. A mentor applicant's failure to 
provide information requested would result in automatic 
disqualification of the applicant.
    5. Youth Selection and Orientation
    Criteria should be developed for youth selection based on the 
program's goals. Parents should be included in an orientation session 
and written permission for the child's participation obtained.
    6. Matching Criteria
    The mechanism for matching youth with mentors should be described. 
Where possible, there should be a match of similar ethnic and gender 
characteristics.
    7. Mentor Support and Training Activities
    Mentor support is essential to ensure program success. Each program 
must employ a program coordinator for mentors to contact for feedback 
and advice. Periodic feedback from mentors and mentees should be 
obtained, especially during the first two months of the relationship.
    8. Mentor/Mentee Activities
    Applicants must assure that projects operated in secondary schools 
will provide mentees with a variety of activities, including an 
opportunity to spend time or participate in the work environment, 
witness job skills useful for obtaining employment, obtain assistance 
with homework, and be exposed to positive new experiences. Projects 
involving elementary school age children should include such activities 
as academic assistance, exposure to positive new activities, and 
emotional support.
    9. Evaluation Methods and Processes
    Evaluation is critical to assuring that the mentoring program is 
operating as designed and that it is meeting its goals both in terms of 
the process and the impact on the mentee. Data on the program 
operations must be collected as well as data on whether mentoring is 
having an impact on academic performance and behavior. OJJDP is 
required by the Congress to submit a report regarding the success and 
effectiveness of these programs 120 days after the programs' 
termination; consequently, programs funded under JUMP must be capable 
of providing this information and must provide written assurance that 
they will participate in a national program evaluation.
    Applicants should address how their programs either currently 
comply with these guidelines or describe the steps they will take to 
assure compliance. Applicants must demonstrate that they have or will 
create an infrastructure capable of fully supporting their program.
    Applicants should provide a specific timetable for all program 
activities indicating what will be accomplished the first year, the 
second year, and the third year, if they are requesting funding for 
multiple years.
    Applicants must demonstrate that they have the support of schools 
and, where appropriate, public agencies and other community groups that 
might be directly involved.
    Applications should not exceed 25 double-spaced pages.
    10. Staffing/Budget
    Whether the school or an eligible public/private non-profit group 
is the primary applicant, it is suggested that one full-time staff 
coordinator oversee up to 60-70 matches. In addition, a second 
individual, either a volunteer, paid, or assigned employee, should 
generally be expected to devote at least 6-7 hours a week to this 
project. A cost of $75 per mentoring-match per year is also 
recommended. Program funds cannot be used directly to compensate 
mentors except for reimbursement for reasonable incidental expenses, 
such as transportation, that are directly associated with the mentoring 
program.
    Products: If appropriate, applicants should describe what written 
materials they will produce and how materials may be useful to their 
own program participants and others hoping to replicate their efforts.

References

Freedman, Marc, The Kindness of Strangers: Reflections on the 
Mentoring Movement, Public/Private Ventures, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, Winter 1992.
Hamilton, Stephen F., Apprenticeship for Adulthood, Free Press, New 
York 1990, p. 156.

    Eligibility Requirements: Applications are invited from local 
education agencies and public/private non-profit organizations that can 
demonstrate knowledge of and/or experience with mentoring programs, as 
well as working with volunteers and youth. When a local education 
agency is the primary applicant, it must partner with a public or 
private agency or a public/private non-profit agency. Likewise, a 
public/private non-profit agency which applies as a primary applicant 
must partner with the local education agency. National organizations 
are not eligible for these funds. Consideration will be given to the 
geographic distribution (urban and rural) of applications and a variety 
of program designs.
    Selection Criteria: Applications will be rated by a peer review 
panel on the extent to which they meet the following criteria:
    1. Problem Statement (15 points)
    The application clearly identifies the need for this project, 
describes the target population, and establishes that it has the 
characteristics associated with effective mentoring programs.
    2. Goals and Objectives (10 points)
    The goals and objectives are clearly defined and the objectives are 
clear, measurable, and obtainable.
    3. Project Design (30 points total, including 5 points for 
innovative design)
    a. The project design is sound and complies with the requirements 
outlined in the guidelines. The application includes a workplan and 
timeline for the grant period.
    b. Up to five additional points will be given for innovative 
program design.
    4. Project Management (15 points)
    The project's management structure and staffing are adequate to 
complement and complete the project successfully. The applicant 
demonstrates that the project will be appropriately staffed. 
Collaborative relationships are established in writing.
    5. Organizational Capability (20 points)
    The applicant organization's potential to conduct the project 
successfully, as well as its history of working with volunteers and 
youth, is documented.
    6. Budget (10 points)
    Budgeted costs are reasonable, allowable and cost effective for the 
activities proposed.
    Award Period: Grantees selected for award will be funded for a 
project period not to exceed three years.
    Award Amount: OJJDP is limiting the amount of individual awards to 
a minimum of $60,000 and a maximum of $180,000 for up to a three-year 
project and budget period. Total amount of the funds for the JUMP 
program in Fiscal Year 1994 is $4,000,000. This amount will include 
support for any grants covering a project period of up to three years 
under this request for application. Future funding support beyond the 
three years is not contemplated.
    Due Date: Applications must be received by mail or delivered to 
OJJDP on or before 5:00 p.m. e.d.t. on September 14, 1994. Application 
narratives may not exceed 25 double spaced pages. In order to 
facilitate peer review, it is requested that each applicant intending 
to apply, submit a brief statement entitled Notice of Intent to Apply 
by August 12, 1994.
    Contact: For further information, contact Betty M. Chemers, Program 
Manager, Special Emphasis Division, (202) 307-5914.
John J. Wilson,
Acting Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 94-18447 Filed 7-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P