The Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP) is a high-tech, career-focused mentoring program for youth involved with or at risk of becoming involved with the juvenile justice system, geared toward youth with disabilities.

Career-Focused Mentoring for All Youth

Funded by several grants 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 one-on-one mentoring to promote the successful transition of RAMPâ„¢ youth 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. Youths’ families, teachers, and support network are engaged in career fairs, college visits, and extended learning activities. 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!

RAMP Network Funders

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

  • 9 sites
  • ages 12-17

NBA Foundation

  • 7 sites
  • ages 14-24

VA Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services

  • 3 sites
  • ages 14-24

Program Outcomes

Youth enrolled in the RAMP program see outcomes exceeding in program participation, academic, and juvenile justice performance goals. Some of these key outcomes include:

youth participation
0 %
stayed in school
0 %
non-offense rate
0 %
completed the program
0 %
improved school attendance
0 %
increased social support
0 %

Success Stories

Contact Information

Email Us:

ramp@iel.org

 

 

Information about partners

RAMP sites have collaborated with over 300 education, community, employer, and STEM partners. RAMP site partners include: Walmart, Olive Garden, Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., State Employees Federal Credit Union, CompuCycle, Kennedy Space Center, Chroma Technology Corp (fluorescence filter manufacturer), Lansing Community College Aviation Center, Tractor Supply Company, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, University of Houston Architecture Department, Johns Hopkins University Hospital and Bank of America.

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