The Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP)™ is a transition framework developed by NCWD/Youth based on our career-focused mentoring guide. RAMP is a high-tech, career-focused mentoring program for youth involved with or at risk of becoming involved with the juvenile justice system. Currently funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and led by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), RAMP™ is being implemented across the country by state and local organizations with expertise in mentoring, youth development, juvenile justice, and disability. The RAMP™ model uses a combination of group, peer, and individualized mentoring to promote the successful transition of all youth, including those with disabilities, to employment, continued learning opportunities, and independent living.
Youth participate in weekly career preparation-focused group meetings, including peer-supported goal setting and exploration of careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Each youth meets regularly one-on-one with a mentor to develop and implement an Individualized Mentoring Plan (IMP). Mentors are caring adults recruited from the community, schools, employers, and partner organizations. At the end of the program cycle, each group of youth works with an industry advisor to complete a high-tech project. While in RAMP™, youth have the opportunity to assess and explore their own career interests; develop a plan and set goals for their transition; create a resource map of their community’s high-tech industries; gain workplace soft skills; build resume-writing and interviewing skills; interact with employers and experience a variety of work settings; give and receive peer support; take advantage of group and personal leadership opportunities; design and build a high-tech-related team project, and most importantly… have fun!
Check out related RAMP resources:
- Guideposts for Success
- Paving the Way to Work: A Guide to Career-Focused Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities
- Making the Right Turn: A Guide About Improving Transition Outcomes for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System
- RAMP™ Individualized Mentoring Plan (IMP)
- RAMP™ Weekly Goal-Tracking Sheet
- RAMP Final Report 2009-2012: Career-Focused Mentoring for All Youth.
