Face to Face Enrichment Center

Program Overview and Background

The Community Organizations and Programs that Empower youth (COPE) Project targets the crucial need to build protective factors among youth involved in the justice system and those at high risk for delinquency and victimization in some of Southeast Louisiana’s most unsafe communities. These youth also face educational failure, bullying, dropping out of school, gang involvement, and some experience mental health issues. COPE is also designed to increase the involvement of parents and families by providing opportunities for family bonding. COPE also aims to improve family relationships, strengthen youth to avoid delinquent behaviors, improve peer relationships, and improve relationships with local law enforcement.

Program Services

One hundred percent (100%) of COPE youth are mentored through evidence-based models through a combination of one-to-one and group mentoring, depending on the needs and desires of each youth. Mental health treatment is also a component of COPE. Mentors play a vital role in putting youth on a positive path, helping them to avoid negative or harmful behaviors, and/or helping to keep depressive symptoms or attitudes at bay. What is remarkable about The COPE Project is that not only do youth have access to mentoring, but they are also able to participate in other interagency programs that Face to Face Enrichment Center offers, such as Life Skills Training, Academic Support, and Technology Access.

Target Population

We aim to provide mentoring under this grant to young people with any one or more of the following:

• Single Parent Household
• Academic Challenges
• Juvenile Justice Involvement
• Victimization
• Substance Impact or Misuse
• Rural Location

Mentor Recruitment and Training

• 120 matches and youth served under this grant
• 60 mentors recruited under this grant
• For mentor recruitment, we target College Students, Adult Volunteers, and Law Enforcement Officers
• Duration of program services: 1-3 years
• Expected intensity of match contact: 8-10 hours per month
• Expected length of a match: 1-3 years
• Expected frequency of match contact: 4-5 times per month
• Number of training hours required before a mentor is matched with a youth: 2 hours