At Risk Youth

Through the Byrne Congressionally Mandated Awards program, the Office of Justice Programs helps communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and supports training and technical assistance programs and other efforts that strategically target local needs. This program is authorized to organizations identified in the Conference Report to accompany the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010.

The YWCA of Greater Toledo has been a vital social service agency in Northwestern Ohio for over 119 years and has been a community forerunner with issues affecting girls and women. Their mission is two-fold, to empower and enrich the lives of women and girls and to work toward the elimination of racism. The YWCA is a multifaceted organization that focuses on the needs of women and their children. To underscore a few of the programs that help to meet the mission, this project will focus on the youth development program and the housing program for women and their children. The proposal will center around two YWCA programs: Youth Development and YWCA Permanent Supportive Housing. The YWCA of Greater Toledo seeks funding to expand their Teen Outreach Program (TOP) programming by implementing it in two additional Toledo Public High Schools, Rogers and Bowsher. TOP will serve approximately 25 students. Participants meet weekly for one and one-half hours after school to discuss issues related to life skills (communication, decision-making, goal setting), values, relationships with family and peers, adolescent growth and development, and teen sexuality. In addition to addressing teen pregnancy, the YWCA's experience with the homeless population, coupled with an extensive review by the Toledo/Lucas County Homelessness Board, has led to the discovery and realization that permanent supportive housing is a critical need among homeless women and their children in the community and a critical link in breaking the cycle of homelessness for the identified population. The program will be measured by these stats: 75% of students completing the program will increase knowledge; 75% as evidenced by post group processing and self reporting; 40 children will remain housed for one year and connected to services as evidenced by file documentation and the family support team; and 35 children who will engage in supportive case management services. NCA/NCF