Supporting Vulnerable At-Risk Youth and Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care

Youth Collaboratory will leverage its experience, in-depth knowledge of the problem, ability to work with a focus of equity across communities and systems, and with reliable data collection and analytic capabilities to fulfil the goals of Category 2 Training and Technical Assistance (TTA). Youth Collaboratory is applying under Priority Areas 1A, 2, and 3 with experience and expertise in working towards racial equity and removing barriers, supporting underserved rural communities, and achieving reputable outcomes.

The purpose/goal of the program is to promote positive youth outcomes and public safety for adolescents experiencing risk factors and youth transitioning from foster care throughout the U.S. (service area). To meet this goal, Youth Collaboratory’s primary activities include providing TTA and achieve the seven required deliverables (D) through four phases.
Phase I: Discovery

D1: Develop technical assistance plans for each Project Site within the first 4 months.
D2: Plan and coordinate, in conjunction with OJJDP, annual cross-site meetings of Project Site grantees.

Phase 2: Learning (Months 6-12, Ongoing) & Phase 3: Integration & Support (Months 12-36, Ongoing)

D3: Provide targeted content training to Project Site staff and partners to increase their capacity to implement strategies to address issues related to the target population of youth.
D4: Establish tools and techniques for working across different disciplines to facilitate information sharing, communication, and coordination. Facilitate peer-to-peer information sharing and learning communities (cross-site meetings) between the Project Sites.

Phase 4: National Dissemination & Engagement (Months 1-36)

D5: Develop and disseminate resources on best practices and lessons learned from the Project Sites.
D6: Develop and deliver general training activities on residential-based innovative care, treatment, and services for communities not funded through this project.
D7: Produce written synopses or summaries of all meetings, onsite visits, conference calls, and trainings, and will provide them to OJJDP.

The intended beneficiaries are Category 1 Project Sites (governmental and tribal entities, independent school districts, and non-profit and for-profit organizations) and other stakeholders supporting adolescents experiencing risk factors and youth transitioning from foster care.

Our expected outcomes are to develop and expand the skills of program providers and other stakeholders working with the target population of youth, and increase awareness of innovative treatment models for this target population of youth.