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

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.

MISSION STATEMENT

NO REFUSAL POLICY INDIVIDUALIZED

SERVICE PLAN FAMILY FOCUSED STRENGTH BASED NEIGHBORHOOD BASED

RECRUITMENT

FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES

18 STATES

Zero Tolerance

“…the transformations that YAP’s

Advocates were able to inspire in

their clients were often stunning.”

– Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed

Allegheny County/Pittsburgh, PA

Chicago, IL

Fort Worth, TX

Arlington, TX

San Angelo, TX

Williamson County, TX

YAP SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS

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

YAP

HOME

SCHOOLCOMMUNITY

ADVOCATE MODEL

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

ADVOCATE MODEL

Paid “natural helpers” recruited from the same communities as the youth and families

Caring, Positive Adult Role Models Work with youth 5-30+ 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

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

ADVOCATESAS CARING ADULTS

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.

PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT

PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES TO TOUGH SITUATIONS (PATTS)

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

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.

• Elementary, Middle School

and High School tracks

• Serving ages 8-18

WHAT MAKES YAP

UNIQUE?24/7 staff

availability

Flex fund to pay for emergency needs

Zip code recruitment of staff

Paid advocate / mentor works with

the student and family

Whatever it takes approach

No refusal policy/no eject/no reject

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

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: 350-400

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.

FORT WORTH ISD PROGRAMServices 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.

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

FORT WORTH ISD PROGRAM

SERVICE DELIVERY PROCESS: Family Team Meeting Ongoing community

resource development/linkages

Plan for termination from YAP

90 day termination Follow up (3 and 6

month)

LIFE DOMAIN AREAS

Youth and Family

Safety

Legal

Spiritual

Employment/ Community Svc.

Personal/ SocialMedical/ Psychological

Education

Residence/ Community

Family

Financial

ADVOCATE PROGRAM STAFFING

• Hires, recruits and trains advocates • Supervises advocates weekly • Contract compliance

Director

• Assists with intakes/Family Team Meetings • Resource development • Advocate supervision

Assistant Director/

Coordinator

• Processes and reviews paperwork • Assists with payroll • Office and file maintenance

Administrative Manager

• Carries out Individualized Service Plan (ISP) • GED to PH.D. • Builds rapport with student/family

Advocate

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)

STAFF

TRAINING

IntelliCorp Background Checks

Character References ( 3 professional and 2 work)

Department of Motor Vehicles

Sex Offender Registry

STAFFBACKGROUND CHECKS

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

EXTERNAL

ACCOLADES

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

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

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 2012-2013 Outcomes:

Chicago Public Schools 2012 Outcomes:

Mary Merino, Director, TCAP NFWmmerino@yapinc.org 817.505.7401

Gary Ivory, Southwest President National Director of Program Development

givory@yapinc.org 214.417.7614

www.yapinc.org

FOR MORE

INFORMATION