January | February 2017

Message From the Acting Administrator: Supporting Youth Mentoring

Hello. I’m Eileen Garry, Acting Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. I have dedicated my career at the Office of Justice Programs to improving both the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and I am honored to help lead OJJDP through the change in administrations.

At OJJDP, we support programs that make a positive impact in the lives of young people—programs that keep kids on track and out of the juvenile justice system. Quality, evidence-based mentoring has been proven to do just that.

We know that a relationship with a dedicated mentor can help boost a young person’s self-esteem, improve school performance, and reduce the likelihood that he or she will engage in risky behavior. We also know that mentors can help build resilience in young people who have suffered trauma and other adverse childhood experiences.

OJJDP believes in the transformative power of mentoring and, in the past 10 years, we have invested nearly $770 million in evidence-based mentoring programs, mentoring-related research, and training and technical assistance.

A major part of that training and technical assistance has been made possible by engaging MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership to operate OJJDP’s National Mentoring Resource Center and by cosponsoring the annual National Mentoring Summit. You can read more about this year’s summit, access funding opportunities for mentoring programs, and learn about how the Office is helping to expand mentoring for at-risk girls in this issue of OJJDP News @ a Glance.

Although National Mentoring Month is officially observed in January, children need the support of well-trained, dedicated mentors all year long. I encourage you to consider becoming a mentor if you aren’t one, and if you are a mentor or a mentoring practitioner, to visit OJJDP’s NationalMentoringResourceCenter.org for materials to enhance your program.

For more information on our mentoring programs and other initiatives to promote positive life outcomes for our nation’s youth, visit our website at ojjdp.gov.

Thank you.