Transformative Mentoring, Credible Messengers, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Violence and Justice System Involvement
Developed by NICJR in partnership with Community & Youth Outreach, Healthy, Wealthy & Wise (HWW) is a culturally relevant, trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program specifically designed to reach very high-risk youth and young adults. HWW serves 15 to 25 youth per cohort with facilitated group sessions held weekly over a 14 to 16-week period. The program also includes a companion evidence-based CBT journal and connects participants to a Life Coach or mentor. NICJR's new report takes an in depth look at the program's design and impact, while also exploring the background and evolution of Transformative Mentoring programs across the country that influenced the development of HWW.
p>HWW is currently a program of Community & Youth Outreach (CYO), a community-based nonprofit organization in Oakland, CA, serving youth and young adults at the very highest risk of being involved in gun violence. CYO serves approximately 150 young people each year, nearly all of whom have involvement in the criminal justice system and most of whom have been assessed by the City of Oakland as very high-risk for gun violence. The program has led to impressive outcomes among CYO participants, which are outlined in this report.
