In July of 2022, the Cumberland County 4-H Program and the University of Kentucky were awarded additional from the National 4-H Council to continue research focused on youth development and the Cumberland County 4-H Mentorship Program. The continued funding of $4,500 makes it possible to eliminate the number one reason why youth do not participate in many 4-H programs, cost. All 4-H activities and projects that are offered as part of the mentorship program are free. 

The initial funding of $10,000 received in 2021 was used to help develop a formalized mentorship program based on best practices and established standards for high quality mentorship programs. Best practices include: training for the mentor, volunteer screening, matching based in part on youth and volunteer preferences, oversight of the relationship, and data collection to track the relationship and positive outcomes arising from it. Factors critical to implementing effective mentoring programs include significant contact between mentor and mentee and a relationship in which the mentor is perceived as a friend rather than simply an authority figure. 

The ongoing funding is a result of collaboration between the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and National 4-H Council. The goals of the 4-H National Mentoring Program (NMP) are to increase youth social competency, improve family relationships, and increase academic success.

As to date, the Cumberland County 4-H Mentorship Program has matched 47 youth with 8 adult mentors, who have participated in professional development and completed the youth and client protection process. Starting in January 2022, youth program participants had the opportunity to engage with their mentors for at least an hour each week and participate in special 4-H programs that were made possible by the funding. 

From January – June of 2023, mentorship program participants were able to connect with their mentors on 54 different days. Youth mentorship program participants participated on average 57 hours. Data related to Impact of program on participants is not yet available because of the nature of the research. Yet, preliminary evidence suggest that the incorporation of a mentorship program in a rural 4-H program can result in increased and sustained 4-H participation. 

According to a longitudinal study focused on 4-H participation, 4-H members are 3.4 times more likely to abstain from sexual activity by the 12^th grade. They are two times less likely to smoke or drink alcohol. Youth in 4-H also report better grades, are nearly twice as likely to go to college, and are 2.3t times more likely to exercise and be physically active (Tufts, 2022). Pairing 4-H participation with an intentional focus on connecting youth with caring adult mentor insures positive youth development