Youth Enrichment Services Inc

YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES PROVIDES SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY AT-RISK TEENS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS THROUGH MENTORSHIP, EDUCATION, AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING. YES PROVIDES AT-RISK TEENS AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES RESIDING IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY WITH THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: COMPREHENSIVE IN-HOME PEER MENTORING PROGRAM, JUVENILE ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION, AFTER SCHOOL P.A.S.S. PROGRAM, GENDER-SPECIFIC MENTORING PROGRAMS, COLLEGE PREPARATION, SUMMER ENRICHMENT, JOB TRAINING, AND SUMMER EMPLOYMENT.

PEER MENTOR PROGRAM - 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 ORGANIZATION'S 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.

DIVERSION PROGRAM - 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. INTER- VENTION 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 COM-MUNITY, DECREASE TRUANCY, REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND ENSURE THAT THE FAMILY'S RULES WILL BE ADHERED TO THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE PROGRAM. EXTENDED DIVERSION SERVICES - 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.

LEARN AND EARN- THE LEARN AND EARN SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IS A SUMMER OPPORTUNITY THAT PROVIDES YOUTH, AGES 14 - 21, WITH EMPLOYMENT AROUND THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. LEARN AND EARN STUDENTS WORK IN DIVERSE JOBS AND OCCUPATIONAL AREAS TO GAIN PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, TECHNICAL SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE OF EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS, AS WELL AS EXPOSURE TO POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS. IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE, YOUTH ALSO EARN WAGES AND CONTRIBUTE TO PITTSBURGH'S TAX BASE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE GOALS OF LEARN AND EARN ARE TO PREPARE YOUTH TO UNDERSTAND APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE BEHAVIORS, THE RIGORS OF THE WORKPLACE, JOB SURVIVAL SKILLS, AND TO CHALLENGE YOUTH TO EXPLORE CAREER INTERESTS AND OPPORTUNITIES. AS A LEARN AND EARN SERVICE PROVIDER, YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES (YES) HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE SUMMER PROGRAM MODEL THAT OFFERS YOUTH MORE THAN AN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC.'S SUMMER PROGRAM MODEL AMALGAMATES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYABILITY PREPARATION, AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT TO NOT ONLY PREPARE YOUTH FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT, BUT TO ALSO STIMULATE THEIR ACADEMIC ACUMEN, AND TO DEEPEN THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR PEERS AND COMMUNITIES. YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. INTEGRATES LEARN AND EARN'S GOALS INTO ITS MODEL TO FURTHER ENSURE YOUTH DEVELOP SKILLS THAT TRANSCEND THEIR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCES. YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. EMBEDS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES INTO ITS SUMMER PROGRAM INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH CAREER EXPOSURE AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT. IN A CLIMATE IN WHICH DEMAND FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IS HIGHER THAN SUPPLY, YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. PROVIDES YOUTH WITH CRITICAL EARLY WORK EXPERIENCES TO MASTER TECHNICAL SKILLS, TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE OF EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS, AND TO SOLIDIFY CAREER INTERESTS. THROUGH SUCH OFFERINGS, YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. SCHOLARS LEARN ACCEPTABLE WORKPLACE BEHAVIORS, THE RIGORS OF THE WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND JOB SURVIVAL SKILLS. IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE, YOUTH EARN WAGES IN WHICH THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO PITTSBURGH'S TAX BASE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INVEST IN THEIR OWN FUTURES, COMMUNITIES, AND FAMILIES. RESEARCH SUBSTANTIATES THE VALUE OF SUCH EARLY WORK EXPERIENCES, AND AS SUCH, THESE OPPORTUNITIES REMAIN INTEGRAL TO YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC.'S SUMMER PROGRAM MODEL.

ALL ABOUT ME- 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. PACE STRATEGIC PLAN-YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. IS ENTERING ITS THIRD DECADE WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR CELEBRATING BROAD SUCCESS IN SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN MULTIPLE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITIES. TO ENSURE THIS MOMENTUM PERSISTS, YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. ENGAGED IN A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS WHICH REVEALED A UNIQUE STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. ALONG WITH FOUR GOALS TO BE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC.'S CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS AND STRENGTH IN PROVIDING MENTORING AND UNDERSTANDING CRIMINOGENIC NEEDS POSITIONS THE ORGANIZATION TO BE A PREFERRED AND HIGH-QUALITY PROVIDER FOR PREVENTATIVE SERVICES. OVER THE YEARS YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. HAS ESTABLISHED A SUCCESSFUL BASE FOR PREVENTING YOUTH FROM ENGAGING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH THE MENTORING PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION HAS CULTIVATED A DEFINED BODY OF PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH THAT SUGGESTS DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO PREVENT YOUTH INTERFACING AND ENCOUNTERING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. THESE FACTORS, ALONG WITH LOCAL RESEARCH AND FEEDBACK FROM SCHOOL LEADERS WHO YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. HAS RELATIONSHIPS WITH, HAS ILLUSTRATED THAT SCHOOL COMMUNITIES ARE STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT IN WHICH LOCAL YOUTH OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY BLACK GIRLS, HAVE DISPROPORTIONATE CONTACT WITH POLICE AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. BECAUSE OF THIS, YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. HAS A STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUT A RESTORATIVE PRACTICES PROGRAM MODEL THAT WOULD ALLOW CONNECTION WITH YOUTH PRIOR TO AN EVENT THAT LEADS TO ENGAGING WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. YOUTH ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INC. WILL PURSUE FOUR STRATEGIC GOALS TO POSITION ITSELF TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY. THE STRATEGIC GOALS, LISTED IN PRIORITY ORDER, ARE: GOAL 1: DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A FORMAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECRUITMENT & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT INCORPORATES BEST-IN-CLASS PRACTICES. GOAL 2: INTRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES PROGRAM. GOAL 3: IDENTIFY AND SECURE THREE NEW RECURRING FUNDING SOURCES. GOAL 4: DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A FORMAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT INCORPORATES BEST-IN-CLASS PRACTICES. PATHWAYS ACCESS PROGRAM- THE PATHWAYS TO ACCESS PROGRAM (PAP) IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT EXPOSES 9-12 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. BUS ENTREPRENEUR PARTNER- 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. FEWI- 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. VMI- THE VIRTUAL MENTORING INITIATIVE IS A PROGRAM BORN OUT OF THE NEED FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION DURING THE VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT CREATED OUT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH PAIRING MIDDLE-SCHOOL YOUTH WITH COLLEGE-AGED YOUNG PEOPLE TO MENTOR THE YOUTH THROUGH THEIR ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL ENDEAVORS AND FOSTER POSITIVE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED EMERGENCY RELIEF RESOURCES SUCH AS FOOD AND CLEANING SUPPLIES TO PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.