The Oswego/Essex Time Bank Violence Prevention Initiative

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).

Oswego County Youth Advocate Programs (OCYAP) will lead a cooperative county effort by expanding their existing advocacy/mentor program to create a Time Bank for Oswego County. The program goals are as follows: 1) Develop and enhance the availability of community service programs for at-risk youth; 2) Improve the organizational capacity, system efficiency and cost effectiveness of community programs that address the problems of at-risk youth; and 3) Improve outcomes for the target population of at risk youth. Time Banking is a services exchange by which one service hour given = one service hour received. Youth earn hours by participating in group community service projects that they help develop and plan. Youth cash-in hours for admission to special events, trips, etc. sponsored by participating organizations. Youth leaders will be hired to help organize the service projects. A companion planning project will occur in Essex County. The core YAP, Inc. model of service consists of four key components. These components include 1) intensive case management based on wraparound principles, 2) local leadership and advocate support drawing on youth development theory and methods, 3) supported employment and 4) the availability of ancillary funds.

Anticipated outcomes include reduced incidence of juvenile offenses, an increase in collaboration between community agencies and new jobs for youth leaders. A measure of engagement will be the number of youth that remain involved in the Time Bank while other measures will include number of community members involved in service projects, number of youth earning enough time bank hours to participate in special events, and number of community organizations involved.

NCA/NCF