After Another Successful Year, Mentoring Program Receives Continuation Funding The National Native American Mentoring Program completed its second year of implementation and has recently been awarded continuation funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for its third year of operation!  The 16 mentoring Club sites built upon past successes to further develop their local programs; leading to dramatic growth.  By the end of July 2006, over 175 mentoring matches were formed, more than doubling first year match numbers.    The National Native American Mentoring program aims to provide a stable, supportive relationship to a child who has at least one parent incarcerated in a federal, state, local, or tribal prison facility.  The 3-year grant was originally awarded by HHS to the Navajo Nation in 2003.  The Navajo Nation has generously offered sub-grants to Native Boys & Girls Clubs in seven targeted states that have a higher percentage of Native American prisoners. Sites also receive ongoing training and technical assistance from Navajo Nation’s national partners, Mentor Consulting Group and FirstPic, Inc. During their site-based mentoring meetings, matched participants take part in traditional Boys & Girls Club activities as well as pursue their own interests.  Clubs also plan special events for mentors, mentees, and their parents.  Some of this year’s events included picnics, camping trips, scavenger hunts, professional sports games, and cultural activities such as camps and Pow Wows.  Mentors bring their personal strengths to the Club, by teaching skills such as tae kwan do, dance, guitar, and web design to mentored youth and traditional Club members alike.  Sites have reported noticeable improvements in the behavior and performance of mentees.  Mentoring Coordinators have observed that mentees are more confident, social, and involved in Club activities.  Many of these young people have also increased regular school attendance and improved their grades.  Matt West, Mentoring Coordinator at Boys & Girls Clubs of Nowata in Oklahoma observed that mentees are more outgoing. “I have seen shy youth become confident, social, and happy,” says Matt.   The National Native American Mentoring Program is looking forward to even greater success in the upcoming year.  With a goal of creating over 300 new mentoring relationships by the end of the 3rd grant year, the program will reach many more children in need of extra attention and support.  For more information about the Mentoring Program, contact Kristen Lichtenwalner at klichtenwalner@firstpic.org. National Native American Mentoring Program Grant Recipients Boys & Girls Club of Three Affiliated Tribes (2 sites) in New Town, North Dakota Three Affiliated Tribes Boys & Girls Clubs of the Glacial Lakes, in Sisseton, South Dakota Sisseton & Wahpeton Tribes Boys & Girls Club of the Yankton Sioux, in Wagner, South Dakota Yankton Sioux Tribe Boys & Girls Club of Fort Peck in Wolf Point, Montana Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes The McCurtain County Boys & Girls Club of the Choctaw Nation, Inc. in Broken Bow, Oklahoma Choctaw Nation Boys & Girls Club of Nowata in Nowata, Oklahoma Cherokee Nation Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa County in Miami, Oklahoma Miami, Wyandotte, Eastern Shawnee, Poria, Modoc Tribes Boys & Girls Club of  Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Inc. (2 sites) in Tahlequah, Oklahoma Cherokee & Shawnee Tribes Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley (Gila River Branches) in Tempe, Arizona Gila River Pima & Maricopa Indian Community Boys & Girls Clubs of the Diné Nation (3 sites) in Arizona and New Mexico Navajo Nation Acoma Pueblo Boys & Girls Club in Acoma, New Mexico Acoma Pueblo IWASIL Boys & Girls Club in Seattle, WA (serving Urban Indian youth)

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Mentoring Site Receives Recognition for Program

Boys & Girls Clubs Mark National Mentoring Month 2007

National Training Kicks Off Third Year of Mentoring Program

Mentoring Program Receives Continuation Funding

National Native American
Mentoring Program Marks a Year of Success

Mid-Grant Training

Kick-off Implementation Training

National Training Focuses on
Expansion of Mentoring Program

Boys & Girls Clubs Celebrate National Mentoring Month 2006

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