Next Steps Liaison Project

NEXT STEPS LIAISON PROJECT HARNESSES THE POWERFUL COMBINATION OF CONNECTION AND OPPORTUNITY TO INTERCEPT THE RE-INCARCERATION CYCLE THAT FOR TOO MANY YOUTH, RESULTS IN AN ADOLESCENCE SPENT IN AND OUT OF DETENTION. IN THE CURRENT JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP FORMED WITH STAFF INSIDE JUVENILE HALL ARE CONSISTENTLY SEVERED UPON YOUTH'S RELEASE. NEXT STEPS LIAISON PROJECT'S INNOVATIVE PROGRAM DESIGN CREATES A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO STAY IN CONNECTION WITH A POSITIVE ADULT AFTER RELEASE FROM DETENTION. OUR FIRST TOUCH POINT WITH YOUTH IS THROUGH OUR THREE PROGRAMS (EMOTIONAL LITERACY CLASSES, ORGANIC GARDENING AND ONE ON ONE MENTORING INSIDE JUVENILE HALL) THAT TEACH INVALUABLE SKILLS NEEDED FOR SUCCESS ON THE OUTSIDE. EMOTIONAL LITERACY CLASSES, USING THE POWER SOURCE CURRICULUM BY ROBIN AND BETH CASARJIAN, IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED, TRAUMA INFORMED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) PROGRAM WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY FOR COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH. GARDEN CLASSES PROVIDE THE HEALING POWER OF TIME SPENT IN NATURE, PROVEN TO REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY AND INCREASE OVERALL WELLBEING. NEXT STEPS BELIEVES THAT CONTINUED CONNECTION AND A BRIDGE TO OPPORTUNITY UPON RE-ENTRY TO THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT YOUTH ON PROBATION NEED MOST TO BREAK THE RE-INCARCERATION CYCLE. WE FUNNEL YOUTH DIRECTLY FROM OUR PROGRAMS IN JUVENILE HALL INTO PAID INTERNSHIPS AND A VARIETY OF RE-ENTRY SERVICES AND TRACK THEM FOR TWO YEARS. IN 2021, A TOTAL OF 77 YOUTH WAS SERVED IN OUR PROGRAMS. 100% OF YOUTH SURVEYED SAID THAT NEXT STEPS PROGRAMS HELPED THEM GAIN NEEDED SKILLS. DURING THE PANDEMIC OUR PROGRAMS SHUT DOWN. WE RESPONDED BY ADAPTING OUR EMOTIONAL LITERACY AND GARDENING CLASSES TO VIRTUAL CLASSES, AND TAKING A "DEEP DIVE" INTO SERVING YOUTH ON PROBATION. WE EXPANDED RE-ENTRY SERVICES TO INCLUDE: *PAID COMMUNITY GARDEN INTERNSHIPS *GARDEN FROM HOME INTERNSHIPS *SUPPORT GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE *PRE-EMPLOYMENT STIPENDS *PROVIDING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES *SUPPORT WITH EMPLOYMENT SEARCH AND JOB APPLICATIONS WE ALSO LAUNCHED NEW INTERNSHIPS BY PARTNERING WITH LOCAL GARDEN CENTERS. THE GARDEN CENTERS PROVIDE JOB TRAINING AND SITE SUPERVISION TO A YOUTH ON PROBATION WHO IS PAID BY NEXT STEPS LIAISON PROJECT. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AND TRACK 100% OF THE YOUTH IN OUR RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS.