Houstonworks Youth Empowerment & Success (YES) Program

The OJJDP FY 10 Earmarks Program furthers 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 Conference Report to accompany the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117), H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 111-366 at 702-714.

The HoustonWorks Youth Empowerment & Success (YES) Program will work with youth in the Harris County Juvenile Probation System and their families to reduce crime and increase their ability to successfully function within the home, work place, and community. The program will serve 12-17 year olds in the Harris County Juvenile Probation System. The goal is to prepare 100 youth for economic self-sufficiency and productive citizenship through strategies that address the developmental needs of these youth: a solid academic foundation, life skills, and good workplace attitudes and attributes. The 12-month YES Program is designed to prepare youthful offenders to gain meaningful employment and or to access educational/training opportunities while they are in the juvenile probation system. The program will implement innovative projects and initiatives to coordinate education, workforce development, youth development, and youth leadership efforts. Participants will be exposed to a career development continuum that encompasses career awareness, career exploration and career preparation. The youth will be assessed using a battery of tests to determine aptitude, interests, and personality. A family evaluation will also be conducted to assess the family strengths and resources. This information is a contributing factor that will guide the structure of the youth's short and long-term plans. The program will also encompass the following objectives: 70% of the youth will complete all three curriculum modules as measured by attendance sign-in forms; 75% of the youth will improve social functioning by demonstrating a more positive self-esteem and ego development as determined by the Program Manager; 70% of the youth who are at least 16 years old will demonstrate employability readiness by entering the labor force or enrolling in specific job training; and 85% of the youth will have a life plan with specific goals including education, career, survival needs, and the identification of a support network as determined by the subjective assessment of the Program Manager. NCA/NCF