Training and Technical Assistance

OJJDP has identified various areas for training and technical assistance to support the JUMP projects. In 1998, OJJDP competitively awarded a JUMP Training and Technical Assistance grant to Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL). Under this agreement, NWREL, in collaboration with BBBS of America and Public/Private Ventures, will develop ongoing training and education programs (designed to identify and reinforce best practices) for JUMP grantees and other mentoring projects. NWREL will also provide onsite technical assistance to JUMP projects. In addition to hosting annual JUMP cluster conferences to promote the sharing of information (the first conference was held in New Orleans, LA, in June 1999), NWREL has also facilitated the selection of mentoring host sites across the country. These host sites are projects that have an identified strength in a particular technical assistance area; they will host regional conferences throughout the year and will be available to serve as resources to other mentoring projects that require assistance. JUMP host sites and their areas of expertise are listed below.

• BBBS of Metro Atlanta, GA. Mentor training, targeted recruitment, cultural/ ethnic/socioeconomic issues.

• BBBS of New York, NY (non-JUMP project). Support for mentors, project evaluation.

• Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, Lame Deer, MT. Working with American Indian populations, building community support, training mentor trainers.

• Valley BBBS, Phoenix, AZ. Recruitment, screening, and training of mentors; building community support/coalitions.

• Young Leaders Academy of Baton Rouge, LA. Supervision of matches, parental involvement, targeted recruitment.