Youth Services Provider NetworkA Project of LEED

ANNUAL REPORT 2005

www.leed.org

To

strengthen theability of youth

practitioners and community organizations to

foster the holisticdevelopment

of young people.

www.leed.org

The YSPN’s vision is to see that young peoplewill achieve personal and academicsuccess, be connected to adults and

their community, have apositive vision of their future, and grow up

to be HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE andCIVIC-MINDED ADULTS.

Bina LefkovitzDirector-Youth DevelopmentLEED

Adrian RuizLead TrainerLEED

Andy PaulProject CoordinatorLEED

Vicki StockbridgeProgram AssociateLEED

YOUTH DEVELOPMENTWHAT IS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT?

CONCEPTA process by which all young people seek ways to meet their basic physical and

social needs and to build competencies (knowledge and skills) necessary to

succeed in adolescence and adulthood.

PRACTICEAn approach to working with young people that intentionally helps youth meet

developmental needs, builds their capacity, and provides relationships and

connections needed for their success.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES

-Problem free is not fully prepared

-Single focus strategies don’t work

-Development happens across all

settings

-All young people need the same

supports and opportunities

-Youth should not be viewed as service

recipients

-Youth engagement and high levels of

participation are important

www.leed.org

WHAT IS YSPN?The Youth Services Provider Network (YSPN), a project of LEED,

is a collaboration of individuals and organizations from throughout the

Sacramento region committed to promoting strength-based principles that

support the positive development of youth.

BACKGROUND

The YSPN was created in October

2000 as a result of two studies

conducted by Sierra Health

Foundation and the Sacramento

County Integrated Services Team.

These studies identified a need in

Sacramento to support youth

providers with training and

networking activities focused on

promoting youth development

research and practices.

HOW DOES THE YSPN WORK?

The YSPN offers networking and

learning opportunities via quarterly

convenings, one-day trainings, and

an extensive e-mail list. The YSPN

promotes alignment with the

principles and practices of youth

development research. The YSPN’s

flagship training is the Youth

Development Institute (YDI).

“I believe the most valuable benefit is an overall shift in philosophythat most agencies appear to come away with after participatingin the trainings. I would recommend the YDI to any agencyworking with youth.”

Matt QuinleySacramento CountyChild and Family Mental Health

CONVENINGS Sharing best practices, ideas and resources

FEBRUARY 23, 2005 “WORKING TOWARDS SUCCESS --HOW WE ALL CAN HELP TEACH SKILLS”In large numbers, youth are headed into the workforce,but are they ready? Participants learned aboutemployability or life skills (often called “soft skills”) and howto help develop them. A panel discussed thesefundamental building blocks that employers look for andhow they are often overlooked when preparing youth tobe productive employees. Attendees: 60

JUNE 23, 2005: “YOUTH EXPRESSION: A LOOK AT THE VOICE OF YOUTH IN ACTION”Youth express themselves through various outlets and forms. During this convening wetook an interactive, fun, and in-depth look at three popular forms: POETRY, ART andMEDIA. Best of all, the day was facilitated by youth and adults working in partnership.Featured presentations/presenters included: The Power of Spoken Word (Anthem);Communicating Through Technology (Skylab); Sharing Your Vision with the World: A Lookat Urban Art (La Raza Galeria Pozada). Other attractions/presenters included: DJ PeetiV.; Martial Arts (Warriors of Righteousness), and Break Dancing (Lords Gym of Roseville).A very special thank you to Encina High School and Crossover Scholar Athletes forhosting this incredible event. Attendees: 100

OCTOBER 15, 2005: “YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE--CIVIC ENGAGEMENT”Youth connecting to their communities is a critical aspect of positive youthdevelopment. Fifteen agencies presented how they actively involve youth inenvironmental education, hospital volunteering, life skills/social skills, tutoring/mentoring,youth on boards, and youth-led community change projects. They shared withattendees various opportunities and strategies for getting involved and giving back totheir communities. Attendees: 70

DECEMBER 9, 2005: “PACKARD FOUNDATION MEETING”

www.leed.org

YSPN Convenings are free and open to the entire community. These convenings are offered threetimes each year, cover a variety of interesting topics, and provide structured opportunities forparticipants to network and share resources with other youth and youth in attendance.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation asked theYSPN to assemble and facilitate a panel of youth tospeak to foundation Trustees on the closing day oftheir three-day Board Meeting. The nine youth on the panel spoke freely and answeredquestions about their views on the future of California, their own futures, and some ofthe challenges and promises that they think the future holds. The Trustees were quitepleased with the level of information and candor they received. Following the paneldiscussion, all participating youth and adults sat down to enjoy a fabulous catered lunchand informal conversations that yielded more opinions and ideas.

TRAININGSCOMMUNITY WIDE YSPN TRAININGS

Strengthening youth providers’ delivery of services

“GROUP FACILITATION SKILLS 202” - FEBRUARY 1, 2005Group management should be an asset to your work, not an obstacle. This trainingprovided tools to help move from being the group “director” to the group “facilitator”.Subject matter offered to attendees included: creating managable and attainablegroup goals, building consensus, reflective debriefing, working in different modalities,and strategies for becoming a dynamic facilitator.

Antelope Global Youth Charter School“PEER CONFLICT MEDIATION TRAINING” - NOVEMBER 3 & 4, 2005This two-day interactive training for youth, faculty, and administration of AntelopeGlobal Youth Charter School examined the key elements of a conflict resolutionprogram. Trainees entered into a process of self-exploration regarding how theydeal with conflict in their everyday lives as well as what conflicts exist at theirschool. Trainees also learned an effective model of peer conflict resolution andwhat organizational practices need to be in place to sustain and grow such amodel.

INDEPENDENT TRAININGS FOR AGENCIES

“YOUTH PARTICIPATION THROUGH PEER HELPING” - MAY 25, 2005Research undeniably tells us that youth should be given opportunities to be resources totheir community and not only seen as recipients. This one-day training shared Californiadata on peer programs and their value in creating leadership opportunities for youth aswell as foundational components necessary to peer programs. Some of the topicscovered included the following: conquering negative perceptions of youthempowerment, building allies for a peer program, and recruiting and retaining youth inprograms.

“FACILITATION TRAINING 101 & 202” - DECEMBER 1 & 8, 2005Taking the popular one-day group facilitation skills classes and creating a two-day ses-sion gave attendees a wide range of tools and strategies when working with groups.Subject matter offered to attendees included: new ways to look at group facilitation,how to create and uphold group norms, strategies for dealing with challenging behav-ior, as well as the topics covered in the February “202” class (see above).

The Human Development Institute (HDI) evolved from the core Supports andOpportunities of the Youth Development Framework for Practice. In partnership withthe City of Sacramento, the YDI created a four-day training to explore what internal andexternal clients need to have an optimal experience either while working with peers ordelivering/receiving services. The four-day training explores four crucialpathways to an optimal environment. They are: Safety, Relationships,Engagement, and Personal Development. The Department of Parks andRecreation has adopted these four pathways into their master plan andare aggressively training all of their staff on this approach.

City of Sacramento“HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (HDI)”

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (YDI)The Youth Development Institute (YDI) continued to provide an extensive 50-hour training to youth practitioners throughout the Sacramento Region. In ad-dition, those agencies that participated in the YDI were invited to receive youthdevelopment coaching from YDI trainers. Upon completion of the YDI, partici-pants were given direct access to YDI Alumni Meetings that brought togetherall previous YDI alumni classes to share their collective knowledge with oneanother regarding youth development principles.

COMMUNITY WIDE YDIIn 2005 the YDI accepted 13 agencies to participate in the institute. The CommunityWide YDI was a 50-hour training for managers and staff from a cross-section of youthserving agencies. In addition to managers and staff, the 2005 YDI class became the firstof its kind to have youth participate throughout the entire institute. The YDI focused on“The Youth Development Framework for Practice” designed by the Community Networkfor Youth Development (CNYD) and Michelle Gambone and James Connell (Please seeillustration of Framework on the following page).

The following 13 agencies participated in the 2005 Community Wide YDI:

-- Antelope Global Youth Charter School-- Big Brothers and Big Sisters of El Dorado County-- Crossover Scholar Athletes-- Family Connections-- Linking Education and Economic Development (LEED)-- Legal Advocates for Children and Youth (LACY)-- Oak Park Neighborhood Services (YouthWORKS Program)-- OASIS Project-- Project SAFE-- Department of Parks and Recreation (Robertson Community Center)-- San Joaquin County Department of Education (Work Start Yes Program)-- Society for the Blind-- Stanford Home for Children

“Insert quote.” Agency Name

Putting youth development principles into practice

www.leed.org

“We always knew it made sense tohave a pronounced youth voice. YDIgave us a focus and direction for thephilosophy.”

Lisa BertacciniSacramento CountyDepartment of Mental Health

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKFOR PRACTICE

Developed by CNYD in collaboration with Michelle A. Gambone (YDSI) and James P. Connell

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (YDI)Putting youth development principles into practice

TARGETED YDI’sIn 2005, the YDI continued its partnership with the Region Three Technical Assistanceoffice to provide two week-long intensive YDIs. These week long intensive YDIs wereoffered to afterschool youth practitioners from the greater Sacramento Region. For amajority of the participants, this marked the first time that they received any formalizedtraining regarding youth development. The spring training was held in Yuba County andwas attended by the following agencies: Maxwell Elementary School (Woodland, CA),Gray Avenue School (Yuba City, CA), Dingle Elementary School (Woodland, CA), YubaCity Parks And Recreation (Yuba City, CA), and Wheatland Elementary School(Wheatland, CA).

The summer training was held in South Sacramento and was attended by the followingagencies: Sacramento START (Operates in six school districts of Sacramento County),Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department (Sacramento, CA), Western PlacerCounty School District (Western Placer, CA), Encina High School (Sacramento, CA), Boysand Girls Club South Lake Tahoe (South Lake Tahoe, CA), and Folsom Cordova SchoolsFoundation (Folsom, CA).

2005 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ALUMNI GATHERINGSThree YDI Alumni gatherings were held in 2005. The purpose of these gatherings was topromote networking and the sharing of knowledge across all YDI alumni agencies.

FEBRUARY 16, 2005 ALUMNI GATHERING: This alumni gathering showcased thedevelopment of a new youth development PowerPoint tool and gave all alumni inattendance an opportunity to review and critique the rough draft. Input was recordedand changes were made to the PowerPoint presentation before its release to thegreater public. At this gathering, alumni were also asked to fill out a survey regardingtheir agency’s training needs. The survey was then tabulated and used to help designthe menu of YSPN trainings for 2005.

May 20, 2005 ALUMNI GATHERING: This alumni gathering provided an opportunity tohave agencies share their implementation of the Youth Development Framework forPractice. In addition to sharing their successes, agencies in attendance werepresented with an opportunity to work with the YSPN and Youth Development Strategies,Inc. (YDSI) on a comprehensive evaluation of their program.

September 13, 2005 ALUMNI GATHERING: The final alumni meeting of the year gaveYDI alumni another opportunity to give the YSPN feedback on one of its projects. Thistime alumni in attendance shared their views pertaining to the early development of theYSPN Youth Participation Guidebook. Many great suggestions from the group wereincorporated into the final draft of the guidebook. As an end of the year highlight, LynnJohnson from CNYD was a featured guest speaker. Lynn, a dynamicfacilitator, spoke regarding the importance of youth participation.

www.leed.org

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTLEGAL ADVOCATES FOR CHILDRENAND YOUTH (LACY)After attending YDI as an attorney with anorganization in San Jose, I was inspired toinfuse my daily practice of representingchildren in the foster care system withyouth development principles. Aftermaking a job change to become thedirector of Legal Advocates for Childrenand Youth (LACY) in San Jose, I saw evenmore opportunities to combine youthdevelopment and child advocacy. Two ofmy very dedicated staff committed toattending the 10 days of YDI despite thelong commute to Sacramento for trainingsessions. I was invited to participate in thatcohort of YDI as a facilitator, creating aunique opportunity to work with my staffon developing a YDI action plan for LACYand to work with a dynamic training team.I learned even more as a facilitator andbecame further committed as a managerto try to implement youth developmentpractices at LACY.

Although creating change is not alwayseasy or speedy, we have severalaccomplishments to be proud of. At LACY,we hired one of our former participants asa legal assistant. We especially enjoy whenshe accompanies us to do outreach at thelocal teen parent programs in high schoolsin the area. In order to make youth feelmore welcome and more quicklyresponded to, we restructured our intakeprocess for youth interested in ourservices. Youth now have the option ofcoming to our offices for walk-in hoursinstead of playing phone-tag with ourintake specialist. Most importantly, we aremoving forward with our coaching hoursoffered by the YDI staff. Although our initialgoal was to create a meaningfulevaluation tool, we realized we could

not start this process without renovatingand rewriting our out-of-date and stalemission statement. Adrian Ruiz facilitated ahalf-day team-building and missionstatement creation session that wentextremely well and captured the opinionsof all our valuable employees. We lookforward to a follow-up session with Adrianand continuing to implement our YDIaction plan in our daily practices,procedures, and approach.

Jennifer Kelleher Directing Attorney

Legal Advocates for Children and Youth

As a new high school, establishing a cultureof genuine youth involvement as well asproviding a quality education is our primedirective. The group who attended the YDIwas comprised of four students (ShanonAstley, Joel Cabrera, Britani Lomba, andByron Pringle), our former office manager,(Lorraine Franco), and myself. Theexperience, in gaining both hard and softskills, far exceeded my expectations. Myyouth participants learned that they arenot only the leaders of tomorrow but theleaders of today. They have ownership ofthe success of our school academically,socially, and emotionally. When peers andadults recognize the growth in theirleadership skills and their ability toarticulate their needs, they attribute itdirectly to the skills they received at theYDI.

As a principal it can be challenging to setthe tone of safety, create opportunities formeaningful youth involvement, and focuson communication skills, all while workingwithin a culture where test scores are thebottom line. The trainers from the YDI, aswell as my fellow participants, continue tooffer support as we go forward. One of ourkey changes has been making sure that allmembers of our school—be it students,parents, or staff—are seen as partners.Although we have different titles, roles,and responsibilities, no person’s opinion isviewed as less than someone else’s. Weare appreciative of the training that wehave received from the YDI that assists usin moving forward with seeing youth aspartners and resources for thedevelopment of a quality educationalsetting.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTAntelope Global Youth Charter School Family Connections, Mentors Plus

Addie EllisPrincipal

Antelope Global Youth Charter School

Joe Tassinari Mentor Coordinator

Family Connections, Mentors Plus

Before we attended the YDI, the fivesupports and opportunities were inherentto Mentors Plus, but we didn’t know it.Once we were able to identify these 5practices, we quickly enhanced them andare continuing to improve our methods.Here is what I have noticed happeningwith Mentors Plus as a direct result of theYDI:Acceptance – Valuing each person’svoice and their need to be includedallows us to honor each person assomeone who counts. In return, each of usis included and listened to.Fun – Because the YDI format taught us tointeract with each other in an increasinglyfamiliar and safe fashion, our time togetheris more enjoyable. The energizers keepthings fresh and the opportunities toexpress ourselves keep things real. Also,because we allow ourselves to determinewhat we are to do, we are choosingthings that we enjoy doing.Permission – The YDI training was effectivebecause it used the “practices” (the 5supports and opportunities) to teach the“practices”. We felt, and now know, whatit’s like to give each other permission to beincluded and to be heard.Our volunteer mentors are encouraged,through training and activities, to adoptyouth development principles. Giving thementee a voice and a choice in decidingon activities, and letting the menteedecide what is talked about and in whatway it is talked about, are two of theaspects we emphasize.Mentors Plus continues to benefit from theYDI.

www.leed.org

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTMarilyn McGinnis of the Oak ParkMultiservice Center attended CNYD’sYouth Development Institute in SanFrancisco in 2001 and brought back withher an optimism and energy for youthdevelopment. McGinnis invited threeafterschool sites to attend the inauguralYDI in Sacramento where they developeda similar optimism and energy. SandraCassidy stated, “When I first attended YDI, Ihad no idea that the training sessionswould be so creative, interactive, anduseful in providing me with a frameworkfor developing supports and opportunitiesfor youth in my afterschool program. YDItraining has inspired me to involve mystudents as partners in the decision-makingprocess for field trips, community serviceprojects, and classroom activities, and togive them opportunities to developleadership skills by facilitating life skillslessons, conducting focus groups, andmaking presentations at conferences andspecial events.”

Youth development principles havebecome an integral part of working withyouth participants. The YouthWORKSprogram offers youth the opportunity toparticipate in an afterschool program,serve on the Youth Committee, and attendthe Leadership Development Camp.

YouthWORKS Afterschool ProgramYouthWORKS is a fun and dynamicafterschool program for Sacramento youthwho are 12 to 18 years of age.YouthWORKS offers homework and tutoringsupport, life skills education, leadershipskills, and recreational opportunities in safe,structured environments. The YouthWORKSafterschool programs, currently offered atC.K McClatchy, Hiram Johnson and theOak Park Community Center, haveembraced youth development.YouthWORKS participant Ashley Price

YouthWORKS Program - Oak Park

stated that, “the McClatchy High SchoolYouthWORKS program is a great programto do your homework. You can get help inMath, English, History or whatever youneed help in. And, you can meet newpeople and hang out.” Staff member JohnBashore acknowledges that “Being aparticipant in the YDI has enabled me toprovide my students with the tools and skillsto become productive leaders in thecommunity.”

YouthWORKS Youth CommitteeThe YouthWORKS Youth Committee studentsdesign, plan and implement the annualYouthWORKS Leadership DevelopmentCamp. To facilitate the camp, adult campstaff work hand-in-hand with youth whohave previously attended LDC and arereturning in a leadership role. These youthattend monthly planning meetingsthroughout the year, participate in pre-camp training, and plan and conductcamp learning sessions. Yeng Lee, a firstyear Youth Committee Member, said thisabout her experience: “The YouthCommittee has taught me lots of thingsabout being a good leader. I havelearned so much from going to themeeting. YouthWORKS and the YouthCommittee has changed my life and itmade me a better person.”

Thanks to the YDI, the journey forYouthWORKS students and staff has beeninspiring, challenging, and enlightening. Forsome students, the process has been lifechanging.

Marilyn McGinnisProgram Manager

Oak Park Neighborhood Multiservice Center

www.leed.org

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT City of Sacramento, Parks and Recreation Department

The City of Sacramento Department ofParks and Recreation has experienceda great deal of success in its youthprograms since modifying their deliveryapproach to a strong youthdevelopment model. Positive resultsinclude: better retention of part-timestaff, increased attendance andparticipation, several outstanding youth-led events, and a very active anddynamic Sacramento Youth Commission.

Under the direction of RecreationManager, Ralph Pettingell, a small groupof City staff and YDI alumni began toexplore how these same principles maybe applied at an organizational level tothe entire Department of Parks andRecreation. What has evolved hasbecome known as a HumanDevelopment model. The Parks andRecreation Master Plan for 2005-2010uses this model as its foundation. TheMaster Plan centers around creatingoptimal experiences and environmentsfor all users of the City’s facilities,programs, and services. These optimalenvironments are achieved throughfour foundational pathways: Safety(physical and emotional), Relationships(with colleagues, partners and clients),Engagement (of internal and externalclients) and Personal Development (skillbuilding opportunities for staff as well asexternal clients).

The City of Sacramento Department ofParks and Recreation has partneredwith the YSPN to develop a HumanDevelopment Institute (HDI). The HDI isbased on the youth developmentmodel, though it differs in that it goesbeyond just youth, focusing on creatingoptimal environments for both internal

clients (staff) and external clients(customers). The HDI is delivered throughan in-depth exploration of each of the fourpathways described above, and eachpathway is examined in terms of optimalvs. insufficient environments. Participantsare engaged in discussion and exercises todemonstrate and foster optimalenvironments in which people can besuccessful and thrive.

The HDI training has been developed anddelivered by a dedicated team of Citystaff under the leadership of Adrian Ruiz ofYSPN. To date, approximately 100individuals have completed the HDI. Allmanagement staff of the Department ofParks and Recreation have completed thefour-day institute as well as most of thesupervisory staff. In addition, several high-level managers from other Citydepartments have attended. Feedbackfrom those that have participated in theHDI has been overwhelmingly positive.Plans are currently in the works to train allsupervisory staff within the Parks Divisionand possibly offer the HDI to alldepartments and employees of the City ofSacramento.

Kim MohlerRecreation Superintendent

City of Sacramento, Parls and Recreation

POLICY Creating sustainable change through YSPN partners

Sierra Health FoundationThe Board approved a new 5-yearinitiative to promote youth development inthe region for youth ages 10-15. The effortincludes:

• Mini-grants for capacity building,• Continued funding of the Youth

Development Institute,• Funding the creation of a faith-based

youth minister network with AreaCongregations Together,

• Supporting a website for faith groupsto post services and opportunities forchildren and youth,

• Hosting experts in the field to speakabout youth development, and

• Convening agencies who provideinfrastructure support to youthdevelopment in order to beginmapping out and coordinating theresources in the region.

Also noteworthy:• Sierra Health commissioned the YSPN

to create a Youth ParticipationGuidebook. This guidebook, to bereleased in 2006, is a comprehensiveguide of best practices and tools foryouth leadership, as well as a catalogof local agencies who offer youthopportunities to participate.

• In 2006, the Foundation will beseeking proposals fromneighborhoods who want to mobilizearound building a community thatsupports positive youth developmentfor its children.

• Sierra Health Foundation has startedto focus its Health Leadership Programon youth-serving agencies.

• Sierra Health Foundation operatesGrizzly Creek Ranch in Tahoe, a campfor children with disabilities.

Sacramento Employment and TrainingAgency (SETA)

• The Workforce Investment BoardYouth Council recruited four youth

who served with the other 15 adultsto make policies related to spendingof Federal Workforce funds for youth.

• The One Stop Career Centers havedefined what it means to be youthfriendly, including inviting youth toassess how friendly the One Stops are.

• SETA is also training its operators onyouth friendly practices.

• SETA continues to fund the YouthDevelopment & Crime Preventionprogram (YDCP). YDCP serves veryhigh risk youth and provides youthdevelopment and employmentservices coupled with substanceabuse and mental health counseling.YDCP was originally funded withWorkforce discretionary funds andSETA was recently awardedDepartment of Justice funds tocontinue this initiative another year.

Sutter Health• Sutter Health continues to fund youth

development as a part of itscommunity benefit program.

• In 2006, Sutter Health will host aprocess for agencies to systematicallyassess how well they implement youthdevelopment practices using youth-driven data.

Region 3• Region 3 continues to promote youth

development to the state-fundedafterschool network that it supports inthe region, through the week longYouth Development Institute.

• Region 3 created a best practicesvideo on implementing youthdevelopment in afterschool programsand published best practices rubricsfor agencies to use.

POLICY Creating sustainable change through YSPN partners

United Way• The United Way Education Impact

Council determined its futuredirection would be around youthleadership and civic engagement.

• It is currently developing commonevaluation measures for all ImpactCouncil funded-agencies. The toolsinclude a youth survey and aprogram assessment. The YSPN will beproviding training support to theUnited Way agencies.

Department of Health and Human Services• The Prop 63 communities’ orientations

included the Youth DevelopmentFramework for Practice.

• Through its Child Welfare Redesign,the department adopted the creationof youth advocate positions to bettersupport youth in the system.

• The mental health system already hasmental health advocates for youth.

• The CPS system also created PAUSE, ayouth advisory group of foster youth,to advise ILP and other parts of thesystem on reforms for the system.

• CPS also provided its workers with apowerful training by foster youth onhow to engage youth in the fostercare system.

• The department’s use of the family tofamily model complements the youthdevelopment approach.

• Additionally, the department is part ofa partnership to create a RecoveryHigh School for youth.

Sacramento County Office of Education• SCOE continues its Youth Inspire

project to spotlight youth who havebeen resilient or who have inspiredothers with their determination,commitment, and caring.

• SCOE continues to convene theprevention coordinators in the countyto network and share resources.

• SCOE will create a new school forsuspended and expelled youth(called LINKS) that uses youth life skillsand work-based learning asfoundational strategies.

• SCOE also continues to build youthdevelopment strategies into itsteacher training program (BTSA).

City of Sacramento• The City has created a human

development (HD) framework (amodified version of the youthdevelopment framework) to guide itsParks and Recreation Departmentpolicies and practices. The Cityrecreation master plan is developedaround the HD framework and over100 city staff have been trained in theframework and its practices.

• The City Council approved $900,000 inadditional funding for afterschoolprograms including TEEN centers anduses the youth developmentframework as the base of its programdesign.

• The mayor created a commission toadvise the council on city policiesrelated to children and youth.

Linking Education and EconomicDevelopment (LEED)

• In 2005, the YSPN became a division ofLEED. LEED’s work in the areas of highschool reform and workforcedevelopment complement the goalsof the YSPN.

• LEED started an afterschool programat Luther Burbank High School to trainyouth for future jobs, and an internmatch program for businesses.

• The Youth as Active Citizens project(YAC), also at Burbank High School, isintended to train youth to doadvocacy around school reformissues.

www.leed.org

BUILDING EXEMPLARY PRACTICESUsing youth driven data

This project, started in 2005, helps agencies who have been through the YouthDevelopment Institute to use youth survey data to strengthen youth programs. Agenciesuse a youth survey instrument developed by Michelle Gambone, national youthdevelopment researcher. The tool measures how well the quality of environmentscreated by agencies for their youth aligns with youth development research.Specifically measured are: emotional and physical safety, caring relationships,opportunities to belong, have voice and choice and make decisions, involvement incommunity, and exposure to engaging, relevant & challenging skill development. Thesurvey results are provided back to each agency and agencies are supported inundertaking a year long program improvement process using the data. Agencies reflecton the data with their youth and staff, review organizational practices, and develop anaction plan that leads to program improvements that are aligned with youthdevelopment best practices. A post survey can be administered 6 months afterimplementing improvement strategies to assess if youth experiences have beenstrengthened. To see sample survey questions and the research behind the tool, visitwww.YDSI.org.

In 2006 the YSPN will be working with agroup of Sutter Health funded agencies andany class participants from the 2006 YDI whowant to participate in this programimprovement process.

In 2005, the YSPN created a learning community of the following 6 agencies to undertakethis improvement process: People Reaching Out, Oak Park Multi Services Center/YouthWORKS, Sacramento START, City of Sacramento Teen Services, Mutual AssistanceNetwork, and 4-H. The agencies learned that they were strong in certain areas and thatothers could be improved. The kind of changes these agencies are making in theiractions plans include: Offering more (and more varied) leadership opportunities andother ways for youth to contribute to the program; Asking for more input from youth(through surveys and other means) regarding staff job descriptions, program activities,and lessons; Increasing emphasis on ground rules and being sure to engage all youth inthe creation of these; Adding in more fun activities, such as energizers and icebreakers,especially after academic activities; and providing workshops on community awarenessand other diverse topics.

FUTURE CREATING CHANGE through COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

EDUCATION BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

FAITH BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

YSPN STUDENT INTERN PROGRAMThanks to a generous grant from the Sutter Health Foundation, in 2006 the YSPN will hireyouth interns from local high schools to become co-facilitators of the YSPN’s 2006convenings and one-day trainings. These youth will receive intensive training in: youthdevelopment, facilitation, presentation, public speaking, meeting/event planning,organizational skills, group process/teamwork, and marketing. The youth interns will workto become critical members of the YSPN team with skills in: public speaking, working withgroups of people, and organizing and facilitating meetings and events that are effec-tive and enjoyable.

COUNTY OUTREACH

In 2006 we are eager to continue our new collaboration with Area CongregationsTogether (ACT). Spearheaded by a grant partnership, YSPN and ACT are working witharea youth ministers to strengthen the amazing work that they already do with youngpeople. In addition to providing quality trainings for youth ministers, the collaborationalso seeks to educate youth ministers on how to become more active in affectingpositive change for youth in their communities. The third component of thecollaboration is to work closely with Sacramento News and Review to create a websitewhere faith-based organizations can post any offerings that they have for young peoplein their area.

After a few preliminary meetings with interested partners, the YSPN has started workingtowards the creation of an Educators’ YDI—a Youth Development Institute designedspecifically for those in the education field. Meetings in 2006 will explore two differentangles for this project: 1) how to link the current required trainings for teachers to youthdevelopment training so that educators can experience both at the same time, and 2)the creation of, and recruitment for, a pilot version of the Educators’ YDI. This pilotversion will launch a group of dedicated partners who will provide valuable feedbackand assistance in modifying the YDI curriculum as necessary to best meet the needs ofour allies in education. We hope to kick off this four-day test training with back-to-backdays in late August and then follow-up with two full days in September and October.

The YSPN is reaching out to several counties to link withexisting networks, map resources for youth, and providetargeted support to those who are working in the field ofyouth development. This support will include presenta-tions, special events, and other activities. In 2006, theseefforts will focus on the counties of Yolo, Placer, and ElDorado.

www.leed.org

FUNDINGSierra Health FoundationSutter Health, Sacramento-Sierra RegionDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of Human AssistanceSacramento Employment and Training AgencyUnited WayCity of SacramentoPCOE/Region 3 Service Learning CenterRegion 3 Center After School TA CenterSacramento County Office of EducationTeichert FoundationWells Fargo BankWellness Foundation

Investing in our work

www.leed.orgPO Box 269003

Sacramento,CA 95826-9003916.231.LEED

916.231.5334 fax

VOLUNTEERS People making it happen

Community VolunteersKim Mohler, City of Sacramento Department of Parks and RecreationBritani Lomba, Master Youth Facilitator, Youth ExpressionsAnthony Wandick, Master Youth Facilitator, Youth ExpressionsMonica Blanco, City of Sacramento Department of Parks and RecreationJohn Bashore, Oak Park Neighborhood Multi Services CenterJim Gaston, Region 3 Technical AssistanceJennifer Kelleher, Directing Attorney, Legal Advocates for Children and YouthRodney Haymer, City of Sacramento Department of Parks and RecreationBeryl Johnson, Sacramento STARTTeressa Heanggi, City of SacramentoBetty Renz, City of SacramentoCrandal Rankins, Crossover Scholar AthletesLords GymLa Raza Galeria PosadaEd Bansuelo and The Warriors of RighteousnessSkylab (youth and staff)

YSPN Planning TeamKim Mohler Elizabeth EdwardsAndy Paul Joy GallowayJim Gaston Cathy Anne IntermannMarsha Strode Mary Lynn PerryAnna Edwards Raylene SwitzerMarianne Bird Alan SeeberDarby Flynn Shireen MilesKim Mechem Sonja StiresLynn Milan Rebecca LivingstonMarilyn McGinnis & Staff Karen GreenLea Rathbun Garren StumpfCrandal Rankins Becca BeddingfieldSuzanne Mayes Lile Rankins