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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Swisstack

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-3-06

HB 744

SHORT TITLE Central NM Youth Mentoring Programs

SB

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$300.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB368, HB679, and SB175.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Department of Health (DOH)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 744 appropriates $300 thousand from the general fund to the Local Government Divi-

sion (LGD) of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) in FY07 for youth mentor-

ing programs in central New Mexico through a program that matches at-risk children with care-

fully screened mentors.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $300 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY07 would revert to

the general fund.

House Bill 744 – Page 2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Department of Health indicated that a connection to a caring adult other than a parent has

been shown to be a strong protective factor for alcohol and drug use, violence, sexual behaviors,

unhealthy dietary patterns and inadequate physical activity. Mentoring programs are proven ef-

fective ways to create and maintain these connections to promote positive youth development.

According to the Department of Finance and Administration, approximately 95 percent of the

children served in mentoring programs come from single-parent families and over 90 percent are

from low-income families. During the last three years, the number of children matched in-

creased over 55 percent from 1,997 to 3,100.

DFA noted that, as reported on the BBBS website a recent study conducted by a national re-

search firm (Public/Private Ventures) examined the impact of youth mentoring programs and

found that when compared to their peers, children who met with their mentors for at least one

year were:

- 46% less likely to start using drugs;

- 27% less likely to start drinking;

- 33% less likely to act violently;

- 52% less likely to skip a day of school, and earned higher grades.

DFA added the outcome, almost across the board, was significantly higher for minority youth.

The study reported that minority boys are 67% less likely to start using drugs, and minority girls

are 72% less likely to start using drugs as a result of the youth mentoring programs. The goal for

the program is to increase the number of matches by 260 in fiscal year 2007.

The Public Education Department offered the following benefits from mentoring programs:

•

Research shows that “adult role models,” “supportive relationship with three or more

other adults” and “adults in community valuing youth” as essential to youths’ health and

well-being.

•

Researchers working from within a risk and resilience framework have repeatedly called

attention to the protective influence of supportive relationships with adults, highlighted

the importance of “one good relationship,” and discussed the critical importance of sig-

nificant adults in promoting the healthy development of highly stressed youths.

•

Mentoring relationships can positively influence a range of outcomes, including im-

provements in peer and parental relationships, academic achievement and self-concept, as

well as lower recidivism rates among juvenile delinquents and reduced substance abuse.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED noted this bill may positively impact the academic achievement of youths participating in

the program by improving attendance, resulting in improved reading and math scores and in-

creasing the graduation rate of students in New Mexico.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The grant will be administered through DFA which already has the staff and the knowledge to

easily fund and monitor this project. DFA indicated that agency will conduct a good faith review

of mentoring programs, and will most likely provide a sole source contract to Big Brothers Big

House Bill 744 – Page 2

Sisters (BBBS) in Central New Mexico. The average annual cost per adult/child match is

$1,000. Half of that $1,000 is used by BBBS for recruitment, screening, training, and matching

of adults to at-risk children. The other half is used for professional support and monthly moni-

toring of the adult/child relationship.

DH/yr