Economic Stimulus Package Includes Funding for Mentoring

Economic Stimulus Package Includes Funding for Mentoring

March 5, 2009: When President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

into law February 17, it included $225 million in competitive grant funding through the U.S. Department

of Justice for mentoring and other activities.

In the language of the final package, the measure provided $225 million for competitive, peer-reviewed

grants to units of state, local and tribal government, as well as to national, regional and local non-profit

organizations to "prevent crime, improve the administration of justice, provide services to victims of crime,

support critical nurturing and mentoring of at-risk children and youth, and for other similar activities."
"The fact that Congress has continued to highlight mentoring as a solution acknowledges what we already

know that mentoring works," said Marian Heard, vice chair of MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership.

"Young people whose families have been and will continue to be hard hit by the economic crisis will need

the help and guidance of a caring mentor more than ever. We are pleased that this funding will be available

to ensure that more of our young people can be touched by the power of mentoring at this crucial time in their lives."
 

For more information as it becomes available, please go to http://www.mentoring.org/.