St Paul Youth Services Inc

TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY'S COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO ENGAGE AND SUPPORT BLACK YOUTH BY PIONEERING PRACTICES, CREATING TOOLS, AND SHARING RESOURCES ACROSS THE STATE, THE COUNTRY, AND THE WORLD.

BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION - THIS PROGRAM DELIVERS BOTH AN ON-SITE PROGRAM AND TARGETED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS THAT'S PROVEN TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT IN CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND ONLINE LEARNING; IMPROVE STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ATTENDANCE, AND DRAMATICALLY REDUCE SUSPENSIONS. 104 YOUTH WERE REFERRED TO AND SERVED BY BIP SPECIALISTS DURING 2021 THROUGH ADVOCATING FOR THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, THROUGH GOAL SETTING, AND BY MAINTAINING THEIR CASELOAD. BIP SPECIALISTS PROVIDED SUPPORT TO 3,203 NON-CASELOAD STUDENTS DURING 2021.

YOUTHPOWERMN - THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM CREATED VEHICLES FOR YOUTH INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC POLICIES, PROVIDED SPACE FOR THEM TO ORGANIZE, AS WELL AS CREATE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES TO HELP POLICY MAKERS VET THEIR POLICIES FOR POSITIVE AND EQUITABLE IMPACT ON YOUTH. YOUTHPOWER ENGAGED IN PRESENTATIONS AND OFFERS RECOMMENDATIONS TO INFLUENCE SAINT PAUL CITY COUNCIL, GRADMINNESOTA, MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, METRO TRANSIT POLICE, SAINT PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FOUNDATION OF MN, AND THE SAINT PAUL FOUNDATION. PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE AUDIENCES WITH FUNDERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, POLICY MAKERS AND CIVIL SERVANTS. DUE TO COVID-19 SOCIAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS AND SCHOOL ADJUSTING BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING, YOUTHPOWERMN WAS PUT ON HOLD. WE ANTICIPATE A RETURN IN 2022.YOUTHPOWERMEDIAMN FULLY LAUNCHED IN 2021 AS THE FIRST YOUTH-LED VIRTUAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM THAT CREATES AND SHARE TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE STATE, THE COUNTRY, AND THE WORLD. BASED ON OUR SUCCESSFUL YOUTHPOWERMN MODEL. ST. PAUL YOUTH SERVICES PROVIDES THE TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS DIGITAL TOOLS. YOUTHPOWERMEDIAMN ENGAGED IN ONLINE TOPICS FOCUSED ON YOUTH-CENTERED DISTANCE LEARNING STRATEGIES, YOUTH SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP, FOOD ACCESS & FOOD SECURITY, AND POLICE BRUTALITY. IN 2021, 24 YOUTH ENGAGED IN THIS PROGRAM. WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUING AND GROWING THE PROGRAM.

PRE-CHARGE DIVERSION - THIS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COURT FOR A RANGE OF FIRST TIME OFFENSES INCLUDING SHOPLIFTING, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND CURFEW VIOLATIONS, HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE AVOID REPEAT MISTAKES AND STAY OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE NUMBERS DECREASED FROM 25 YOUTH SERVED IN 2020 TO 6 YOUTH SERVED IN 2021 DUE TO COVID-19 SOCIAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS AND SCHOOL LEARNING REQUIREMENTS. WE ANTICIPATE A RETURN TO AVERAGE NUMBERS WITH PRE-CHARGE DIVERSION AS AN ALTERNATIVE INITIATIVE TO JUVENILE DETENTION AND/OR COURT MANDATES THAT PROVIDES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

ADVOCACY AND TRAINING - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAININGS FOR LEADERS AND STAFF OF NONPROFITS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES WHO WORK WITH YOUTH - WHETHER BY MISSION OR CIRMUMSTANCE - WITH THE POWER TO DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY INFLUENCE YOUTHS' LIVES. A TRAINING COURSE IS ALSO OFFERED FOR INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONS WITH YOUTH IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD AND START A LOCAL PROGRAM TO ENGAGE YOUTH AND INTRODUCE THEM TO NEW SKILLS AND INTERESTS.