Program:
Streetworker Outreach & Peacemaking
- Budget:
-
$135,000
- Category:
-
Youth Development
- Population Served:
-
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
-
Young Adults (20-25 years) -- currently not in use
Program Description:
UTEC’s nationally recognized model begins with intensive street outreach and gang peacemaking, reaching out to the most disconnected youth by meeting them “where they’re at” and facilitating a peace process between rival gang leaders.
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy conducted an 18-month study of UTEC's Streetworkers, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The 2010 study results, now published in two peer-reviewed journals, describes how using street outreach workers (SW) is an effective strategy to reach and engage youth with the goal of preventing violence. SWs are typically members of the community who intervene to prevent conflict and retaliation, and in some programs, also connect individuals with needed services, such as housing and job training.
The study found that UTEC’s Streetworker program has five important factors that contribute to its success and sustainability:
· Involvement of youth in hiring street outreach workers
· Investment in quality training for the street outreach workers
· Providing street outreach workers with a comprehensive benefits package and team retreats to prevent staff turnover and burnout
· Establishment of community partnerships
· Incorporation of peacemaking into outreach
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Workforce Development
- Budget:
-
$525,000
- Category:
-
Youth Development
- Population Served:
-
Young Adults (20-25 years) -- currently not in use
-
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
UTEC's target youth participate in work crews that blend transitional employment soft skills development with industry skills in culinary arts, building maintenance, or multimedia technology.
With each crew also structured as its own social enterprise, youth work up to 20 hours/week for minimum wage, 4 days/ week for 5 hours each, (able to work 4 hours for every hour they attend GED class). With opportunity to move to higher levels in their work crew, youth are expected to work in this program for a minimum of 9-18 months.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Education: GED & Alternative Diploma Program
- Budget:
-
$155,000
- Category:
-
Education
- Population Served:
-
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
-
Young Adults (20-25 years) -- currently not in use
Program Description:
UTEC offers two alternative education programs tailored for our very high-risk youth.
GED classes are offered 4 days/week (4 hours daily) and a minimum of 15 hours are required of all youth who are enrolled in the workforce development program every week.
UTEC has partnered with Lowell High School (LHS) to also offer an alternative diploma program whereby previously out-of-school youth can attain their high school diploma (classes 3.5 hours/day, 4 days/week).
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Case Management with Transitional Coaches
- Budget:
-
$221,000
- Category:
-
Youth Development
- Population Served:
-
Young Adults (20-25 years) -- currently not in use
-
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
After a Streetworker begins a consistent relationship with a targeted young person (out-of-school and gang-involved, criminally-involved, or homeless), he/she will refer them to a transitional coach (TC), UTEC’s name for case managers.
Youth develop a one-to-one relationship (including a service plan) with a TC and work on major life challenges/obstacles (i.e. housing, finances, family relations, physical/emotional health, and legal matters).
Youth then enter either our Education or Workforce Development programs. TCs have a caseload of 20 youth; average of 2 contacts/week for each youth for at least 1.5 hours, providing follow up with youth for two years after their program graduation to track progress toward their long-term outcomes.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Civic Engagement & Youth Organizing
- Budget:
-
--
- Category:
-
Youth Development
- Population Served:
-
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
-
Young Adults (20-25 years) -- currently not in use
Program Description:
Youth who participate in WFD/Education programming are exposed to the principles of civic engagement and youth organizing and learn skills that will allow them to address the problems and inequities that they see in their communities. A crew of 5 young people work as paid organizers and conduct grassroots campaign work based on issues identified by the larger youth body.
UTEC youth are engaged at local-level community projects and organizing. UTEC is also the lead agency for Teens Leading the Way, a statewide, youth-led coalition for public-policy advocacy.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples: