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. Click here to learn more about our Youth Development Model.

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.

My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper

We support the administration of the My Brothers’ and Sisters’ Keeper (MBSK) program funded by the Care First, Community Investment initiative. This program will focus on supporting education, job placement, and mental health for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous youth of all gender identities in Los Angeles County. In late Summer 2023, we are seeking to contract with 8 community-based organizations in the areas of East Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, and the Antelope Valley. Stay tuned for more information about how to apply for this upcoming funding opportunity!

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.

Coming Soon

24-Hour Youth Centers

DYD will facilitate a community centered process to design 24-Hour Youth Centers in alignment with Youth Justice Reimagined goals for our planned Youth Development Network regions. We look forward to sharing more when we begin implementation planning engagement in Spring 2024!

Support for Youth in Schools

DYD is building capacity and increasing access for youth development in collaboration with schools and other youth-serving systems. Stay tuned for more information about how to get involved!

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