History of Mentoring Programs at YJI
The Inside Mentoring Program (IMP) was launched January 2001. At that time, the girls in San Francisco detention centers were isolated due to a lack of family visits and support services. IMP began by employing three female students from San Francisco State University as mentors to girls in the maximum-security unit. The program steadily expanded to youth in other units. In 2002, we began mentoring young men inside the boys’ maximum-security unit. Because of the visible needs of the youth and the early success of our passionate mentors, IMP evolved into a recognized program that became a part of YJI in 2003.
We currently mentor youth in every unit and have over 40 mentors each semester working inside detention halls. YJI mentoring programs are cost-efficient, successful strategies for working with “in risk” system-involved youth that provide individual support and models healthy relationships.