Act 30 of 1997 provides grant funds to nonprofit community-based organizations operating in collaboration with a school district, Intermediate Unit or Vocational-Technical School. The purpose is to promote the development of educational mentoring programs that provide trusted adults as positive role models for at-risk children and youth. Grants are awarded to community-based organizations (501-c-3s) on a competitive basis. The request for applications can be found at www.pde.state.pa.us/mentoring

Education Mentoring programs must be broad-based initiatives involving home, community and schools to provide comprehensive program services. Through the establishment of mentoring relationships this initiative focuses on two main goals:

• To increase the academic success of participating students; and
• To reduce the incidence of absenteeism and tardiness.

Program models include the following:

• Community-based - matches meet in the community at self-selected times/locations
• School-based - matches meet at the school site, either at a self-selected or pre-determined time
• Site-based - matches meet at community location, such as Family Center, typically at a pre-determined time

Program models and specific strategies are locally determined based on the needs and resources of the grantee agency and the participating school/s.

Studies confirm that mentoring relationships have a positive impact on the lives of children. Effective mentoring relationships have the characteristics of a structured, one-to-one relationship between a caring and supportive adult and a youth in need. True mentoring transcends the bounds of tutoring programs; the value of mentoring is in the relationship which the young person develops with their mentor.