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(9) CITY OF SANTA ANA
<br /> improvement using the Youth Asset Survey,applied at intake and after 6 months in the program.The Youth
<br /> Asset Survey is widely used across the U.S. and known for high reliability.as their assessment tools. We set
<br /> a goal for each youth to improve in one internal asset upon re-assessment.
<br /> 3. Youth are assessed for vulnerability and risk factors using the TAY Vulnerability Index - Service
<br /> Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool(Vl- SPDAT) (Balagot et al., 2019), a nationally-recognized
<br /> instrument that collects information on functioning, vulnerability, current and past trauma, and any co-
<br /> morbidity issues.
<br /> 4. We also use the Adolescent Coping Scale(Frydenberg &Lewis, 1998) to evaluate their ability to use
<br /> productive coping strategies.
<br /> 5. The Case Manager assesses youth progress throughout the mentoring program,using both
<br /> benchmarks and milestones. Benchmarks are built into the JTS program,marking completion of key
<br /> stages and activities, for example, completing a life skills course,preparing a resume or conducting a job
<br /> interview. Milestones are personal goals set by the youth such as obtaining a driver's license, drug
<br /> rehabilitation, family reunification or college entrance. Both benchmarks and milestones are critical to
<br /> maintain accountability and build youth confidence throughout the program. Our SUFK OC mentors
<br /> serve as a guide, and provide each youth a stable, healthy,trusting, adult relationship. They help the
<br /> youth establish personal goals, overcome obstacles, identify and build on their strengths and obtain the
<br /> self-confidence needed to achieve and maintain a productive life.
<br /> 6. At the 12 month check-in(and beyond for SA), we assess whether the youth remains stably housed,
<br /> gainfully employed, and self-sufficient. Our goal is 100% of youth successfully meet this target. In
<br /> 2024, 97% of our mentored youth remained stably housed and self-sufficient at their 12 month check-in,
<br /> Our goal is for each client to ultimately find themselves in a sustainable and healthy situation. Once
<br /> youth are in a sustainable, healthy situation, we support them for potential setbacks, relapses, new
<br /> instances of homelessness and other challenges. Therefore, we don't ever back out of their lives. We
<br /> determine a comfortable set of services, counseling, and other supports that a youth needs at a given
<br /> point in time. All youth are encouraged to remain connected to SUFK-OC staff for the long term, and
<br /> many youth in the program continue this relationship for many years and even become mentors
<br /> themselves.
<br /> 9. We assess two specific outcomes for youth re-connected to secondary education. The primary
<br /> outcomes are to graduate high school and to become well established,post-graduation in college, trade
<br /> school or viable work. In 2024 100% of our mentored school age youth achieved these goals.
<br /> SUFK OC serves a diverse population,primarily BIPOC, and youth with mental disorders and traumas.
<br /> Our mentoring programs assume that the youth have severe obstacles to overcome. SUFK OC's staff
<br /> have a combined 55 years of experience serving homeless and at-risk youth in OC and Santa Ana. We
<br /> provide the most comprehensive care possible,with extensive training in positive youth development,
<br /> trauma-informed methods, behavioral health, coping strategies, and harm reduction education to assist
<br /> youth in overcoming obstacles. In addition, SUFK OC maintains an extensive network of referral
<br /> agencies and community service providers that ensures youth receive comprehensive wrap-around
<br /> support to overcome the specific obstacles they face (e.g., legal, financial, educational, behavioral,
<br /> mental health, substance abuse,trauma,pregnancy, etc.).
<br /> 5. Paid&Unpaid Work Experience
<br /> StandUp for Kids Orange County operates the Workforce Activation Readiness Program(WARP) to
<br /> increase the number of gainfully employed 16-24 year-old transition age youth in Orange County. Our
<br /> program provides job skills training, employment navigation,paid internships,paid occupational
<br /> training, and educational support in order to ensure youth achieve their academic and employment goals.
<br /> Youth ages 16 and up may participate in the "Work Activation Readiness Program" (WARP)providing
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