YOUTH ADVOCATE PROGRAMS, INC.: SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES A PARTNERSHIP WITH YAP AND FORT WORTH ISD

Transcription

1 YOUTH ADVOCATE PROGRAMS, INC.: SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES A PARTNERSHIP WITH YAP AND FORT WORTH ISD

2 MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to provide individuals who are, have been or may be subject to compulsory care with the opportunity to develop, contribute and be valued as assets so that communities have safe, proven effective and economical alternatives to institutional placement.

3 FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES NO REFUSAL POLICY INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICE PLAN FAMILY FOCUSED STRENGTH BASED NEIGHBORHOOD BASED RECRUITMENT

4 18 STATES

5 Zero Tolerance

6 the transformations that YAP s Advocates were able to inspire in their clients were often stunning. Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed

7 YAP SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS Allegheny County/Pittsburgh, PA Chicago, IL Fort Worth, TX Arlington, TX San Angelo, TX Williamson County, TX

8 YAP ADVOCATE MODEL AND THE WRAPAROUND PROCESS Strength-based assessment Student and family focused intervention Culturally competent advocate assigned to student and his/her family Individualized Service Plan (ISP) Driven Services and Supports are "wrapped" around the student/family

9 9 ADVOCATE MODEL HOME YAP COMMUNITY SCHOOL

10 WRAPAROUND PLANNING PROCESS 130 worker competencies based on high fidelity wraparound Partner with Families Emphasis on Building Strengths, Competencies and Relationships while reducing risks Incorporate Mandates into Planning Needs, Strengths, and Cultural Assessment Tools Crisis and Safety Planning Structured Weekly Schedule Develop Family Team Develop & Implement an Individualized Service Plan

11 ADVOCATE MODEL Paid natural helpers recruited from the same communities as the youth and families Caring, Positive Adult Role Models Work with youth hrs/wk Implement the Individualized Service Plan Work in the home, school, community Coach, Mentor, and Model through real-time experiential learning Help youth build competencies and connections Available 24/7

12 ADVOCATES AS CARING ADULTS Mentoring can have positive outcomes on: Social Competence Reducing Risk Behaviors Academic Achievement and Engagement Career Development/Employment Parental Relationship Self-Worth and Future Expectations *Theokas & Lerner, 2006; **Rhodes, Spencer, Keller, Liang, & Noam, 2006; DuBois, Holloway, Valentine, and Cooper, 2002

13 PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT Parents are involved in the Individualized Service Plan development. Parents are contacted face to face 2-3 x per week. Advocate assists with navigating the communication systems between schools and families. Have more participation in their child's education. Transportation provided as needed. Family and Team meetings. Inform and educate parents as it relates to their child's education.

14 PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES TO TOUGH SITUATIONS (PATTS) Peaceful Alternatives to Tough Situations (PATTS) is a school-based aggression management program designed to help students increase positive conflict resolution skills, increase the ability to forgive transgressions, and reduce aggressive behavior. PATTS Curriculum Outline Session #1 : Orientation & Nonviolent Role Models Session #2 : Expressing Emotions & Seeking Support Session #3 : Anger Cues & Ways to Calm Down Session #4 : Responsibility & Self Control Session #5 : Soothing & Stinking Thinking Session #6 : Conflict Resolution Skills Session #7 : Forgiveness Session #8 : Violence & Your Future or Peer Refusal Session #9 : Review & Graduation Elementary, Middle School and High School tracks Serving ages 8-18

15 WHAT MAKES YAP UNIQUE? 24/7 staff availability No refusal policy/no eject/no reject Flex fund to pay for emergency needs Whatever it takes approach Zip code recruitment of staff Paid advocate / mentor works with the student and family

16 BENEFITS OF YAP TO SCHOOLS Improved attendance Improved grades and overall academic performance Improved behavior inside and outside the classroom Improved parent/caregiver engagement Cost savings

17 ALLEGHENY COUNTY SCHOOLS TRUANCY PROGRAM Services provided: Holistic Advocacy Goal: Permanent Truancy Elimination Target population: Currently serving approximately 36 school districts within Allegheny County, including all inner-city schools. However, our contract is open to serve all school districts throughout Allegheny County. Average Hours Per Week Per Client: 8-12 Referring Authority: Children, Youth, and Families (CYF); Montour School District Number Served Annually:

18 CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROGRAM Services provided: truancy, gang intervention, advocacy, family support, in classroom support, programming is very specific to each school and the Principal s needs. Goal: The goals of our services reflect the needs of the student population. We work closely with students, their families and school administrators to develop quality service plans for each student in our traditional advocate program. Schools: 63 Chicago Public Schools, grades K-12. Students served: average 10 hours per week in our traditional advocate programs, our truancy and in-school support programs vary based upon the school and students needs. Number served annually: 300 students via various contracts with CPS.

19 FORT WORTH ISD PROGRAM Services Provided: Wrap-around advocacy/mentoring. Goal: To minimize disciplinary and truancy issues while increasing academic performance and parental engagement. Target Population: Middle and high school students with chronic absenteeism, disciplinary problems, academic problems and lack of parental support. Schools: J.P. Elder, Meacham and Kirkpatrick Middle Schools and Diamond Hill-Jarvis and North Side High Schools. Students served: 25 students at any given time for 5 hours per week at the home, school and community settings. Number Served Annually: 100 students per year. Average length of stay in YAP is 90 days. The program is year round.

20 FORT WORTH ISD PROGRAM SERVICE DELIVERY PROCESS: Strength-Based Assessment Assign advocate (5 or more hours per week) Develop Individualized Service Plan (ISP) Advocate carries out ISP goals Attend weekly PATTS groups School visits as needed Family Team Meeting Ongoing community resource development/linkages Plan for termination from YAP 90 day termination Follow up (3 and 6 month)

21 LIFE DOMAIN AREAS Safety Financial Legal Family Spiritual Youth and Family Residence/ Community Employment/ Community Svc. Education Medical/ Psychological Personal/ Social

22 ADVOCATE PROGRAM STAFFING Director Assistant Director/ Coordinator Administrative Manager Advocate Hires, recruits and trains advocates Supervises advocates weekly Contract compliance Assists with intakes/family Team Meetings Resource development Advocate supervision Processes and reviews paperwork Assists with payroll Office and file maintenance Carries out Individualized Service Plan (ISP) GED to PH.D. Builds rapport with student/family

23 STAFF TRAINING All staff receive 20 hrs of annual training 9 course Orientation Basic Advocacy Training certified by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Engaging Families Boundaries Promoting Safety through Planning Setting and Achieving Goals Challenges to Change Individual and Family Development and Dynamics Positive Youth Development Conflict Prevention and Intervention (Mandt)

24 STAFF BACKGROUND CHECKS IntelliCorp Background Checks Character References ( 3 professional and 2 work) Department of Motor Vehicles Sex Offender Registry

25 EXTERNAL ACCOLADES YAP is recognized as a Promising Practice Annie E Casey Foundation OJJDP National Council on Crime and Delinquency YAP is COA accredited, which means services are: Accessible Appropriate Culturally Responsive Evidence based Outcomes oriented

26 YAP ENDOWMENT FUND FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION The Fund started awarding scholarships in 2007 As of July 31, 2014 YAP has awarded 68 scholarships Through the generosity of YAP staff donations and fundraisers we have raised over $1 million dollars! Available to current and former YAP clients and their parents. Scholarships can be used for tuition, but also for concrete needs. For example, we have paid for books, bought cutlery for a recipient going to culinary school, paid for tools and a tool box for a student learning a trade, and purchased a computer for a student. Recipients may reapply annually as many times as necessary "Since Elementary school I have had a clear vision of what I wanted to do with my life. That vision, coupled with my own struggles and experiences, has given rise to a deep passion for helping at-risk youth " -excerpt from Scholarship winner Malcolm Robertson s Application letter

27 OUTCOMES Chicago Public Schools 2012 Outcomes: 41% of Seniors enrolled graduated and went on to college 9% of Seniors enrolled earned a GED 8% of all enrolled graduated (not attending higher ed) 9% of all enrolled went on to college 32% re-enrolled in school Allegheny County, PA Truancy Program Outcomes: 85% attended school weekly between 3.0 days and 5.0 days 75% involved with the YAP Truancy Program were promoted to the next grade level 5.59% Graduated from High School 8.6% earned a GED 20% honor roll achievement

28 FOR MORE INFORMATION Mary Merino, Director, TCAP NFW Gary Ivory, Southwest President National Director of Program Development