1.  The Commission shall, within the scope of its duties, support and facilitate mentorship programs in this State for the purpose of addressing issues relating to education, health, criminal justice and employment with respect to children who reside in this State. The Commission shall:

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(a) Establish model guidelines and parameters for existing mentorship programs, including, without limitation:

(1) The development of a model management plan setting forth guidelines for the operation of mentorship programs and strategic goals and benchmarks to measure the success of a mentorship program.

(2) The process for identifying children in need of mentorship and geographic areas of need within this State. Such a process must include, without limitation, consideration of children who:

(I) Are disproportionately at risk of being deprived of the opportunity to develop and maintain a competitive position in the economy.

(II) Are disproportionately at risk of failing to make adequate yearly progress in a school in this State.

(III) Have been involved with the system of juvenile justice in this State, either as a victim or as an offender.

(IV) Have been involved with the criminal justice system, either as a victim or as an offender.

(V) Are in the child welfare system.

(b) Develop a model financial plan that provides for the sustainability and financial stability of mentorship programs, including, without limitation:

(1) The development of a resource plan to provide for diversified fundraising.

(2) The identification of potential sources of revenue to fund the hiring of the coordinator for mentorship programs in this State, as required by paragraph (e).

(3) The identification of potential sources of revenue to fund the hiring of administrative support staff for mentorship programs in this State.

(4) The development, in coordination with the Office of Grant Procurement, Coordination and Management of the Department of Administration of a plan for seeking gifts, grants, donations and contributions from any source for the purpose of carrying out a mentorship program.

(5) The identification of potential strategic private partners to assist in the implementation and continuation of mentorship programs.

(6) The development of public relations and marketing campaigns for the purpose of increasing public awareness regarding existing mentorship programs and the value of mentorship programs.

(c) Develop model protocols for the recruitment, screening, training, matching, monitoring and support of mentors.

(d) Develop model protocols for the effective management of mentors, mentees and matches under mentorship programs, including, without limitation, protocols for the introduction of a mentor to a mentee and closure of the relationship between a mentor and a mentee.

(e) Within the limits of legislative appropriations, employ a coordinator for mentorship programs in this State. The Commission shall work in consultation with the Department of Education to provide direction and guidance for the coordinator.

(f) Within the limits of legislative appropriations, develop a competitive grants program to award grants of money to mentorship programs in this State. In coordination with the Office of Grant Procurement, Coordination and Management of the Department of Administration, the Commission shall:

(1) Administer the grants program;

(2) Establish guidelines for the submission and review of applications to receive grants from the program; and

(3) Consider and approve or disapprove applications for grants from the program.

2.  As used in this section, ‘child’ means a person 24 years of age or younger.