Arizona Youth Partnership

ARIZONA YOUTH PARTNERSHIP (AZYP) BUILDS SOLID FOUNDATIONS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES BY PARTNERING WITH ARIZONA COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE YOUTH SERVICES, PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND HEALTH EDUCATION RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOMELESSNESS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS, TEEN PREGNANCY, AND CHALLENGING FAMILY DYNAMICS.

AZYP WAS FOUNDED IN 1990 BY A GROUP OF CONCERNED PIMA COUNTY CITIZENS WHO SOUGHT TO PROVIDE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTY ACCESS TO THE SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE TUCSON METRO AREA. IN 2006, AZYP EXPANDED TO SERVE RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS ARIZONA AND NOW SERVES COMMUNITIES IN 11 COUNTIES. THIS YEAR WE ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING:1. HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION: KNOWLEDGE SKILLS, AND TOOLS ARE TAUGHT IN FUN AND INTERACTIVE FORMS TO YOUTH WITH A FOCUS ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, SMART GOALS, AND DECISION-MAKING. 2800 YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE STATE ATTENDED HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION CLASSES2. WYMAN TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM: YOUTH PROGRAM FOCUSED ON SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING AND DEVELOPING SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTS. WYMAN TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM SERVED 250 YOUTH3. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID: TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP YOUTH EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH OR ADDICTIONS CHALLENGE OR IS IN CRISIS. 335 ADULTS WERE TRAINED IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID 4. OUR COALITION TAKE BACK EVENTS COLLECTED 400LBS OF PILLS/POWDERS AND DISTRIBUTED 120 DETERRA BAGS FOR DISPOSAL5. SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: A FUN SUMMER CAMP-LIKE EXPERIENCE WHERE YOUTH CAN GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WHILE LEARNING LEADERSHIP AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP SKILLS. * 100 YOUTH ATTENDED SUMMER LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS 6. SUMMER YOUTH CONFERENCES: A COMMUNITY EVENT FOR YOUTH THAT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HARMS OF UNDERAGE DRINKING, DRUG ABUSE, TOBACCO USE, AND PRACTICE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP AND REFUSAL SKILLS. 7. MOHAVE COUNTY TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE: PROVIDES HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS SUPPORT AND EMPOWERMENT THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT AND INCREASES AWARENESS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT. 18 YOUTH AT RISK OR CONFIRMED VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING RECEIVED CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTORING 8. STRONGER FAMILIES PROJECT: FOCUSING ON LOVE AND LIMITS, THE PROGRAM INCREASES FAMILY DIALOGUE AND REDUCES SUBSTANCE USE IN YOUTH. FAMILIES REPORTED A 46% INCREASE IN PARENT-YOUTH COMMUNICATION. 41 YOUTH AND 69 ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN THE STRONGER FAMILIES PROJECT 9. WAKE UP PROGRAM: AN ALCOHOL AND DRUGS EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT EXPOSES YOUTH TO REAL LIFE CONSEQUENCES OF IMPAIRED DECISION MAKING. 70 YOUTH COMPLETED THE WAKE UP! PROGRAM10. YOUTH SHELTERS 11 YOUTH WERE PROVIDED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, BASIC NEEDS, AND CASE MANAGEMENT 55 HOMELESS YOUTH RECEIVED SHELTER AT ONE OF 3 RESIDENTIAL YOUTH SHELTERS11. STARTING OUT RIGHT: SUPPORT AND EDUCATION FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING YOUTH. 150 PARENTS/CAREGIVERS ATTENDED ACTIVE PARENTING 40 PREGNANT/PARENTING YOUTH ENROLLED IN PARENTING CLASSES