President's Budget Proposes Major Changes for Youth Programs, Including Mentoring

Youth Today has published an analysis of the President's 2011 budget proposal http://www.youthtoday.org/publication/article.cfm?article_id=3793 , and there are major changes that will be impactful of mentoring programs. This is just the first step in a long process, but nonetheless it provides some perspective on the administration's priorities. (Remember that the numbers for current spending do not necessarily reflect recovery dollars available to some of the programs) Some highlights of the proposal:

1) Dept of Justice: Mentoring grants drop from $100 million to $45 million; Byrne Discretionary and Competitive grants fall from $225.3 million to $30 million; and the Weed and Seed program is zeroed out.

2)The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, the primary conduit for after-school programs, is level-funded in the 2011 budget. The general consensus is that the admistration is looking to shift after-school funds into the Full Service Community Schools Program.

3) Mentoring Children of Prisoners is basically level-funded with a slight decrease from $49.3 to $49 million.

4) Funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service is slated to grow substantially, reflecting the admistration's campaign promises, with an overall increase from $1.15 billion to $1.416 billion with appropriations for AmeriCorps state and national programs jumping by more than 30 percent – allowing expansion to 105,000 members – and the appropriation for the educational awards rising about 50 percent, from $197 million to $293.6, reflecting both the increased AmeriCorps membership numbers and rise in the amount of the award. There would also be increases in Learn and Service America (from $39.5 million to $40.2 million), the National Civilian Community Corps (from $19 million to $34.6 million) and the Social Innovations Fund (to $50 million originally slated for this year).

5) The focus on job skills training for youth is likely to increase with Youthbuild funding going from $102.5 million to $120 million and the introduction of two two new youth initiatives: $108 million to pursue “learn and earn” strategies such as apprenticeships and on-the-job training, and a $154 Youth Innovations Fund for pilot programs for summer and year-round job programs for disconnected youth.

6) There are also some new initiatives that are a major focus of the proposed budget including a new Dept of Justice initiative on children exposed to violence and the Promise Neighborhoods, the Obama administration’s program to replicate the successful Harlem Children’s Zone approach to child development. The Promise grants are currently funded at $10 million for planning grants for possible Promise Neighborhoods this year. Selection of 20 locations to receive the planning grants is expected this year. The administration proposal includes $210 million in next year’s budget includes for an unspecified number of demonstration projects and $10 million for additional planning grants, signaling a possible second round of demonstration projects next year.