Network Grantee Details
Boston Youth Services Network (BYSN)
BYSN, the oldest and most mature of the Teen Initiative’s five networks, has an active membership of 15 organizations and a committee structure that focuses on particular policy, program, and network improvement issues. BYSN uses its website to facilitate inter-agency referrals, communication, planning, and policy work. With support from the Teen Initiative, BYSN is working with BPS to systematize an outreach and referral process for 9th graders at risk of dropping out and more tightly coordinate and manage referrals.
East Boston Task Force
http://www.eastbostonyouth.org/
The 10 members of the East Boston Task Force are dedicated to serving youth most likely to drop out of East Boston High School, as identified by EBHS administrators. Towards this end, EBTF and EBHS have instituted a system that keeps them in daily touch regarding their student cohort (25 ninth-grade students in 2008, 40 in 2009). Network members are using this system to coordinate outreach and OST services to students and share reports with the school regarding student engagement and achievement.
As a result of EBTF’s work, 33% of students served have higher attendance rates and grades. One student, a two-time 8th grade drop out, has made the baseball team and now maintains a 2.5 GPA. Other students have re-engaged, improved their relationships with teachers, become involved in OST activities, and found job opportunities. The network has leveraged its success to raise $170,000 in additional funding, including a grant from the Black Ministerial Alliance and the Boston Campaign for Proficiency.
Get Off the Corner Hanging Around (GOTCHA)
http://www.gotchayouthjobs.org/
GOTCHA is a network of six nonprofit organizations in Roxbury and Dorchester working together to enhance the economic power of youth and families. The networks fosters youth leadership, advocates for meaningful youth employment opportunities, and supports the development of youth employment skills and experiences.
During the 2007-2008 academic year, GOTCHA piloted a school-year jobs program with 17 youth at 6 worksites. This academic year, they are expanding the pilot to include 55 youth and 17 job sites. GOTCHA will also be converting its youth database into a web based student information and referral system and increasing the range of available youth opportunities.
Jamaica Plain Unidos
JP Unidos is a network of 14 organizations serving youth in Jamaica Plain. With the support of the Teen Initiative, JPU hired its first coordinator, and with her support recently completed a program/service scan of their community and a youth participation census. Using that baseline, they have begun to track referrals made within their network. Their next step is to expand their network to include other local organizations and move towards network-wide programs that would make intentional use of the network’s organizational assets. In June 2008, JP Unidos played a critical role in organizing a youth-led response to a series of murders in Jamaica Plain. Network members credit the JP Unidos structure for making that response far easier to organize than it would have been even 12 months ago.
Lower Roxbury Youth Collaborative (LRYC)
The 7 members of LRYC primarily serve youth living in the affordable housing developments of Madison Park Village, Orchard Gardens, and Orchard Commons. It is particularly committed to youth leadership and has formed a Youth Council representing all network members to provide ongoing input into the network’s priorities, programs, and service agenda. With guidance from the Council, LRYC has hired eight youth workers to encourage greater youth participation in network programs and activities. LRYC is developing a system to monitor inter-agency referrals and participation. Monthly youth rap sessions are bringing together teens from different agencies and housing developments to identify common needs, effective strategies, and programs. Unfortunately, LRYC has also been tested by incidents of youth violence. Like JP Unidos, the network was able to coordinate a response across several organizations, including the Boston Public Heath Commission, that minimized further violence.
