The Mentoring Program is a collaborative venture among California State University, Fresno, Focus Forward, Fresno County Probation Department and the community. Mentors work with the youth incarcerated at the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus. The mentors are undergraduate and graduate student interns from the School of Social Work, along with community volunteers. The mentors are assigned youth and work with them, assessing their needs and developing a case plan to support them in custody and when they transition back to the community.

The mentors approach the youth in a non-judgemental and caring manner, resulting in the youth trusting and respecting them. It is an amazing learning experience for both the mentors and the youth. The youth are given the opportunity to express themselves freely and the mentors are a welcomed "listening ear." The mentors model positive behavior and support the youth in developing goals for success. The mentors also lead groups on such topics as gang intervention, anger management, and gender specific issues. One of the mentors started a meditation class which has become a very effective behavior management tool for the institution and is in high demand. New topic groups are introduced as needs arise.

The mentors continue to work with the youth when they are released from custody. They have facilitated getting many of the youth into community college or job training programs. Mentoring programs such as this one have proven to have positive impact on these youth.