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119-s-299119th CongressWALLET

Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a federal competitive grant program to expand mentoring for high-need youth. The bill would fund community-based groups to run year-long, trauma-informed mentoring that builds social-emotional skills and prepares youth for high school, college, and work.

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  • Youth and families: Eligible youth, including in-school and out-of-school youth and those at risk of academic failure or chronic absenteeism, would receive structured mentoring focused on social-emotional learning and workforce readiness. Mentoring relationships must include regular meetings for at least 1 year.
  • Community organizations: Nonprofit community-based organizations and partnerships could get competitive grants for up to 3 years and may subgrant to local partners. Grants can fund mentor recruitment, background checks, training, mentor pay, staffing, and program evaluation.
  • Schools and employers: Programs must coordinate with local education agencies and private employers and align with career and technical pathways to offer work experiences, internships, apprenticeships, and recognized postsecondary credentials.
  • Justice-involved youth and students with disabilities: The program gives priority to high-need communities and youth with the greatest need and directs Labor to link grantees to transition services for youth returning from correctional facilities and for students with disabilities.
  • Evidence and oversight: Grantees must report participant counts, academic and employment outcomes, postsecondary enrollment, and social-emotional measures within 180 days after each grant year. The Department of Labor’s Chief Evaluation Officer would study mentoring effectiveness and report results to Congress within 3 years.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Labor study on mentoring programs

If enacted, the Department of Labor would study mentoring programs. The study would identify successful programs and evidence‑based strategies. It would evaluate mentors' roles in learning and social‑emotional development and assess the new grant program's effects on academics and career outcomes. The Secretary must send results to Congress within 3 years after enactment.

Federal youth mentoring grants

If enacted, the government would award competitive Youth Mentoring grants to community organizations and partnerships. Grants could run up to 3 years. Funds could pay for recruiting, screening, training, and compensating mentors. Grants could also fund paid internships, apprenticeships, and job training tied to credentials. The Secretary would prioritize programs in high‑poverty, rural, or high‑violence communities. The bill authorizes such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Mentor screening and training rules

If enacted, programs would need written screening plans and criminal background checks for all mentors. Programs must exclude mentors with child‑safety convictions during participation or within the past 7 years. Mentors must get training in trauma‑informed practices, youth engagement, cultural competency, and social‑emotional learning. Programs must try to match mentors who can serve long term.

Which youth are eligible

If enacted, the program would cover in‑school and out‑of‑school youth. It would also allow youth who are failing, chronically absent, frequently changing schools, or have multiple suspensions. Youth exposed to community violence, with parental incarceration or substance use, or identified by trauma screening could also be eligible. Programs may use evidence‑based screens to decide eligibility.

Grantee reporting and student privacy

If enacted, grantees would file an annual report within 180 days after each grant year. Reports would show counts and demographics of youth and mentors and outcomes for academics, attendance, discipline, arrests, employment, and postsecondary enrollment. Reports must include social‑emotional assessment results and must protect student privacy under FERPA.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

  • Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 5/5/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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