Project Description:
The participants in this project are under the legal guardianship of DCFS and most reside
within group home settings. The goal of the project is to support the reduction of at-risk
behaviors (including truancy, tardiness, fighting/violence, involvement with gangs, trouble
with the law and use of drugs) by providing participants with mentors. Additionally, youths
will learn skills to set goals, develop action plans, and recruit their own mentors. A group
of mentors will be provided for participating youths to choose from and develop a mentoring
relationship with. This mentoring relationship will be supported within the school and the
group home and will serve as a medium for providing both social and academic support.
Program effectiveness will be evaluated based on the outcomes achieved by the students
as well as the reduction of at-risk behaviors.

Target Population:
This project will target 13 and 14 years olds with disabilities who are wards of the state
attending two inner city middle schools.

Purpose:
Recruiting Mentors to promote the reduction of at-risk behaviors.

Start/End Dates:
June 1, 2000 - May 31, 2002

Funded by:
Chicago Public Schools via a grant from the Illinois Planning Council

Participating Organizations:
Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS)
Health PLanning Council (HPC)

Project Staff:
Fabricio Balcazar, PhD (Principal Investigator)
Chris Keys, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator)
Teresa Garate-Serafini, M.Ed. (Project Director)
Kimberly Hall, MA (Evaluation Coordinator)
Xavier Perez (Case Manager)
Sara Vogt (Research Assistant)
Mosi A. Ifatunji, (Research Assistant)

Project Activities:
Mentor Training
Mentee Intake Data Collection
Mentee Basic Life Skills Training
Project Field Trips

Contact:
Tere Garate-Sarafini, M.Ed.
tere@uic.edu