YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
DYD is coordinating a growing, multi-level approach to youth development that builds support for young people where they live, learn, and play.
Did You Know?
Participating in Youth Development activities and services contributes to improved socio-emotional, health and wellbeing, education, and safety outcomes, as well as increased protections against negative outcomes throughout a young person’s lifetime. Research shows that meaningful youth engagement facilitated by youth leadership is an important part of successful youth development programs.
Youth Development Networks
Youth Development Networks (YDNs) are designed to provide free, comprehensive, and culturally responsive youth development programming and services to Los Angeles County youth by coordinating low-barrier and high-access networks of care. YDNs offer a mechanism to increase available services for youth in prevention of and/or responsive reintegration from system involvement.
Our approach to youth development is grounded in research and youth leadership, building upon the Social Justice Youth Development framework. We recognize the role of economic, social, and political context and prioritize cultural relevance in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policies for youth, families, and communities. For us, youth development means creating equitable access to activities and services supporting health, social, vocational, cognitive and creative, leadership, and environmental competencies for all youth by addressing systemic disparities that limit a young person’s development.
OUR PARTNERS
Antelope Valley
East Los Angeles
Long Beach
San Fernando Valley
South Central Los Angeles
Multi-Level Approach to Youth Development
The diagram below highlights examples of services, supports, and opportunities for youth development.
BLOOM Program
DYD supports Building a Lifetime of Options and Opportunities for Men (BLOOM), a school-based mentorship program, through a public-private partnership with the California Community Foundation. BLOOM providers include Becoming a Man, Brotherhood Crusade, and Social Justice Learning Institute. BLOOM provides young Black and Brown males ages 12-18 with mentoring, character-building, and leadership programming.
As of January 2023, BLOOM serves youth in 49 school sites from various districts across Los Angeles County. BLOOM cultivates a sense of belonging, and critical awareness, empowering students to reach greater academic success such as achieving high school graduation, college and/or career enrollment, and an overall improved quality of life. As students recover from learning loss and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the BLOOM program and its services are needed now more than ever.