Elevate Usa

THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, ELEVATE USA WILL REDUCE HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS AMONG HIGH-RISK YOUTH IN UNDER RESOURCED SCHOOLS. THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF HIGH-RISK MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND PREPARE FOR A POSITIVE FUTURE. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING SUBAWARDS TO ELEVATE AFFILIATES TO MENTOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE TARGET POPULATION SERVED BY THIS PROJECT IS STUDENTS IN URBAN AND RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES ARE LOWEST. ELEVATE PROGRAMS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN NEW YORK CITY; LOWELL AND LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS; ORLANDO, JACKSONVILLE, AND TAMPA, FLORIDA; INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA; DENVER, COLORADO; KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI; DALLAS AND FT. WORTH, TEXAS; SAVANNAH, ATLANTA, AND AUGUSTA, GEORGIA; LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY; BIRMINGHAM AND TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA; SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA; THE NAVAJO NATION (ARIZONA); BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT; SEATTLE, WASHINGTON; THE MESCALERO APACHE NATION (MESCALERO, NEW MEXICO); AND THE CROW NATION (LODGE GRASS, MONTANA). ELEVATES MISSION IS TO BUILD LONG-TERM, LIFE-CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH URBAN YOUTH, EQUIPPING THEM TO THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. ELEVATE ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY HIRING FULL-TIME, SALARIED MENTORS WHO COME FROM SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS AS THE YOUTH. THESE MENTORS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MENTEES THROUGH TEACHING ACCREDITED SCHOOL CLASSES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MENTORING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, CONDUCTING ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES, AND ASSISTING MENTEES WITH A PLAN FOR COLLEGE OR CAREER AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. ADDITIONALLY, PARENTS/CAREGIVERS/FAMILIES ARE ENGAGED THROUGH HOME VISITS, FAMILY EVENTS, AND LOCAL AND NATIONAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT COUNCILS. AS A PART OF THE PROJECT, ELEVATE WILL PROVIDE MENTORING TO HIGH-RISK MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LARGE GROUP, SMALL GROUP, AND ONE-ON-ONE SETTINGS. EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THOSE ENROLLED WILL COMPLETE THE ONE-YEAR PROGRAM, 85 PERCENT OF MENTORED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF REQUIRED CREDITS TO BE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE, AND ALL MENTORED STUDENTS WILL ATTEND A MINIMUM OF 90 PERCENT OF SCHOOL DAYS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN ADDITION, ELEVATE WILL ENHANCE AND IMPLEMENT A MULTILEVEL (SYSTEMIC, AGENCY, AND INDIVIDUAL) FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE.

ELEVATE USA WILL REDUCE HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS AMONG AT-RISK YOUTH IN LOW-INCOME AND UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF AT-RISK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL, PREPARED FOR A POSITIVE FUTURE. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING SUB-AWARDS TO ELEVATE AFFILIATES TO MENTOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS SHOW A STRIKING INCREASE IN INCARCERATION, UNEMPLOYMENT, VICTIMIZATION, AND OTHER ADVERSE RESULTS. MENTORING IS AN EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT YOUTH WITH CARING, ADULT RELATIONSHIPS DEMONSTRATE INCREASED ACADEMIC MOTIVATION, INCREASED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND LEARNING, INCREASED SENSE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND REDUCED ENGAGEMENT IN A VARIETY OF HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS. THE TARGET POPULATION SERVED BY THIS PROJECT IS STUDENTS IN URBAN AND RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES ARE LOWEST. ELEVATE PROGRAMS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN NEW YORK CITY, LOWELL AND LAWRENCE MA, ORLANDO, JACKSONVILLE, INDIANAPOLIS, DENVER, KANSAS CITY, DALLAS, SAVANNAH GA, PATERSON NJ, BIRMINGHAM, THE NAVAJO NATION (AZ), ATLANTA AND BRIDGEPORT CT. ELEVATE’S MISSION IS TO BUILD LONG-TERM, LIFE-CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH URBAN YOUTH, EQUIPPING THEM TO THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. ELEVATE ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY HIRING FULL-TIME, SALARIED MENTORS WHO COME FROM SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS AS THE YOUTH. THESE MENTORS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MENTEES THROUGH 1) TEACHING ACCREDITED HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 2) MENTORING IN THE EVENINGS, WEEKENDS, AND VACATIONS, 3) CONDUCTING ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES, AND 4) ASSISTING MENTEES WITH A PLAN FOR COLLEGE OR CAREER AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. THIS UNIQUE APPROACH SUCCESSFULLY BUILDS THE CARING, ADULT RELATIONSHIPS NEEDED TO HELP YOUTH ON THE PATH TO GRADUATION AND SUCCESS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. AS A PART OF THE PROJECT, ELEVATE WILL PROVIDE MENTORING TO AT-RISK PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LARGE GROUP, SMALL GROUP, AND ONE-ON-ONE SETTINGS TO 700 YOUTH IN YEAR 1, 700 YOUTH IN YEAR 2, AND 700 YOUTH IN YEAR 3. 85% OF THOSE ENROLLED WILL COMPLETE THE ONE-YEAR PROGRAM. THE AIM IS FOR 85% OF MENTORED STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THE NECESSARY CREDITS TO MATRICULATE TO THE NEXT GRADE-LEVEL ACADEMICALLY, LEADING TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. IN ADDITION, ELEVATE WILL ENHANCE AND DELIVER ADDITIONAL MENTOR TRAINING. ALL DATA WILL BE COLLECTED LOCALLY BY EACH AFFILIATE USING DATA ACQUIRED FROM INTERNAL TRACKING RECORDS AS WELL AS SCHOOLS. NO PORTION OF THE GRANT WILL BE USED TO CONDUCT RESEARCH.

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2025-2026 AMERICORPS NATIONAL DIRECT PROGRAM. NO MEMBER MAY ENROLL PRIOR TO THE APPROVED START DATE OF THE MEMBER ENROLLMENT PERIOD. YOUR 2025-2026 REGULATORY MATCH IS 24% AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 24.34%.