YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES INC

PEER MENTOR PROGRAM - ACADEMIC PREPARATION- ALL ABOUT ME (AAM) IS PRIMARILY A MENTORING, TUTORIAL, AND EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAM, WITH SPECIFIC ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES TAILORED TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF TRUANCY, SOCIAL ADAPTATION, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN HOPES OF PREPARING STUDENTS TO BE PITTSBURGH PROMISE ELIGIBLE. TO MEET THESE GOALS, THE AAM PROGRAM CLOSELY MONITORS STUDENTS GRADES AND ATTENDANCE AND CONDUCTS HOME AND SCHOOL VISITS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS HOLISTICALLY TOWARD PROMISE READINESS AND POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS. COLLEGE PREP (CP) IS DESIGNED FOR 11TH AND 12TH GRADE STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING ADMISSION TESTING SUPPORT, ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP AND COLLEGE GUIDANCE, EXPOSURE TO COLLEGIATE CONTEXTS, AND ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING COLLEGE AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION MATERIALS. WHAT SETS YES COLLEGE PREP APART FROM OTHERS IS THE LEVEL OF STAFF COMMITMENT IN PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AND SERVICE TAILORING. WHETHER ITS PAST PROGRAM HOURS OR ON THE WEEKEND, STAFF SUPPORT STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR PRE- COLLEGE AND COLLEGE JOURNEYS. YES RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL, OR ALTERNATIVE, FORMS OF SUPPORT FOR YOUTH WHO MAY STRUGGLE TO SUCCEED IN TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC SETTINGS OR MODES OF LEARNING. ALTERNATIVE ACADEMIC SERVICES ALLOWS YOUTH INVOLVED IN OTHER YES PROGRAMS TO RECEIVE TARGETED, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT IN THEIR ACADEMIC PURSUITS. THE YOUTH CIVIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY- THE YOUTH CIVIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (YCLA), NOW IN ITS 3RD ITERATION, IS A FREE, 17- WEEK ACADEMY. YCLA HELPS YOUNG SCHOLARS DO THE HEAVY LIFTING EMERGING ADULTHOOD REQUIRES BY EQUIPPING YOUTH WITH TRANSFERABLE SKILLS, COMPETENCIES, AND THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING NECESSARY TO THRIVE AS CIVIC LEADERS, COMMUNITY STEWARDS, AND CHANGEMAKERS IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND. YCLA WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCESS, EXPLORE, AND EXPERIENCE CAREER FIELDS TYPICALLY DEEMED OFF LIMITS FOR YOUTH OF COLOR AND THOSE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT MONETARY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL WITHIN PITTSBURGH INCLUDING DECISION MAKING FIELDS LIKE CIVICS, EDUCATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THROUGH INTEGRATED COURSEWORK, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND RESEARCH-BASED PROJECTS, YCLA WILL PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO PITTSBURGHS PAST, RESOURCES OF THE PRESENT, AND THE VISION OF PITTSBURGHS FUTURE WITH THE CITYS FIRST BLACK MAYOR BEING A DIRECT MENTOR COMMITTED TO IMBUING YOUTH WITH A SENSE OF BELONGING AND RELEVANT REGIONAL IDENTITY. BEYOND A TRANSACTIONAL OR REMOVED LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT MERELY INFORMING YOUTH THAT CERTAIN CAREER FIELDS EXIST, YCLA PROVIDES A LITERAL ONE OF A KIND IMMERSIVE AND INTEGRATIVE EXPERIENCE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND SUPPORTING PARTNERS-THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY (CCAC), THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER, PARTNER4WORK (P4W), AND YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. (YES). YCLA SCHOLARS WILL NOT ONLY SEE THEMSELVES AS CAPABLE OF HAVING A CAREER BUT ALSO BEING A PART OF PITTSBURGHS CAREER ECOSYSTEM. SCHOOL YEAR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT- THE PATHWAYS TO ACCESS PROGRAM (PAP) IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT EXPOSES 912 GRADERS TO A VARIETY OF CAREER EXPERIENCE AND ALLOWS THEM TO DEVELOP SKILLS NECESSARY TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE. THROUGH YEAR-ROUND MENTORSHIP, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES, AND OTHER SKILL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES STUDENTS GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CAREERS THAT INTEREST THEM WHILE RECEIVING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPATION. EACH COHORT RECEIVES SPECIFIC OUTCOMES BASED ON THEIR GRADE LEVEL. THE BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS CTE STUDENTS THAT PROVIDES HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN CAREER FIELDS PARTICIPANTS ARE INTERESTED IN. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF WORKFORCE READINESS TRAINING AND REAL WORK EXPERIENCE. ENGP- THE ENDING THE NEED FOR GROUP PLACEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR YOUTH WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE WITHIN THE GROUP PLACEMENT PROCESS. YES FACILITATES MEETINGS BETWEEN THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES AND STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE SYSTEM TO STRATEGICALLY PLAN FOR FUTURE PLACEMENT STRUCTURES. GENDER SPECIFIC PROGRAMS- VOICES TO MEN IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE YOUNG MEN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO BE SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY LEADERS. THROUGH A VARIETY OF TARGETED SESSIONS, OUTINGS, AND EXERCISES WITH MALE MENTORS, PARTICIPANTS WILL DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF AND STRATEGICALLY USE THEIR SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND REAL VOICES AND CHALLENGE THE OFTEN-RESTRICTIVE STORY PLAGUING MEN OF COLOR. IN DOING SO, PARTICIPANTS WILL SPEAK THEIR RICH STORIES, DISCUSS RELEVANT AND PRESSING ISSUES IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, HEAL, AND GROW. FEMALE EMPOWERMENT AND WELLNESS INITIATIVE, FEWI, IS A GENDER-SPECIFIC MENTORING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES AN ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO DISCUSS SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND CULTURAL TOPICS WITH TRUSTED ADULTS AND PEERS. THE PROGRAM IS MADE UP OF DIALOGUE SESSIONS AND SOCIAL-CULTURAL OUTINGS. GENERAL SERVICES - THE HEART OF YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. IS MENTORING PARTNERSHIPS, A COMMUNITY- BASED PROGRAM THAT INCORPORATES PEER MENTOR CERTIFICATION TRAINING, LIFE SKILLS, AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO ADDRESS AT-RISK BEHAVIOR AMONG ADOLESCENTS. THE MENTORING CONCEPT IS CENTRAL TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS PHILOSOPHY OF IMPROVED PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THE MENTORING PROGRAM ARE AS FOLLOWS: ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND LIFE SKILLS ENHANCEMENT. ALUMNI SUPPORT - THE ALUMNI SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDES RECENT YES ALUMNI WHO ARE CURRENTLY PURSUING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER ENDEAVORS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AS THEY CONTINUE ON THEIR JOURNEYS. THE NEED FOR VARIOUS FORMS OF SUPPORT DO NOT DISSIPATE WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND YES SEEKS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ITS YOUTH IN ORDER TO ENSURE THEY ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THEIR JOURNEY, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

DIVERSIONARY SERVICES - DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, DIVERSION 2000 (D2000) IS A 24/7 MONITORING AND MENTORING PROGRAM OFFERING JUVENILE OFFENDERS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION. INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS CONDUCT SCHOOL AND HOME VISITS, MONITOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, MAKE DAILY CURFEW CALLS, AND ARRANGE ACADEMIC SUPPORT. THE FAMILY ACTION PLANS ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE CHILD AND THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR COMMUNITY, DECREASE TRUANCY, REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND ENSURE THAT THE FAMILYS RULES WILL BE ADHERED TO THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE PROGRAM. D2000 YOUTH ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE EXTENDED DIVERSION SERVICES (EDS) PROGRAM OFFERED BY YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. IF STAKEHOLDERS DETERMINE YOUTH WILL BENEFIT FROM CONTINUED PROBATIONARY SERVICES. EDS YOUTH CONTINUE TO RECEIVE HOME AND SCHOOL VISITS AND NIGHTLY CURFEW CALLS; HOWEVER, THEIR SERVICES ARE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE WEEKLY SESSIONS FACILITATED BY YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. STAFF, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL OUTINGS, ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING, AND EMPLOYABILITY PREPARATION. STAFF SELECT THE SERVICE PROVISION THAT ALIGN AND ADDRESS CHALLENGES THE PRESENT YOUTH ARE FACING TO INDIVIDUALIZE SERVICES. DIVERSION PREVENTION 3RD ITERATION, OR THE CODE, IS A MULTIMODAL YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM ADDRESSING THE IMPACTS TRAUMA AND FAMILY IN COHESION CAN HAVE ON A YOUTHS ABILITY TO AVOID RISKY BEHAVIORS, MAKE PROSOCIAL DECISIONS, AND ACCESS ECONOMIC MOBILITY OPPORTUNITIES. THE PURPOSE OF THE CODE IS TO INCREASE SOCIETAL PROSOCIAL BONDS OF YOUTH WHO HAVE MEDIUM TO HIGH RISK LEVELS OF DELINQUENCY OR RECIDIVISM.