Youth Intervention Program

The YIP (Youth Intervention Program) is a unique program designed to target youth involved in gangs or at the greatest risk of being involved or recruited by gangs. The program has three components: Recruitment, Enrichment and Empowerment phases. Activities designed for this group of youth include, life skills development, community service, character building, arts and culture, prevention education on use of tobacco and other substances, one-on-one and group counseling, self-esteem development, youth development, social and recreational activities, athletics, academic enrichment, educational field trips and other positive activities. These programs are designed to meet the human and developmental needs of at-risk youth while assisting them with life-sustaining skills. Coordinators administer pre-assessments to identify needs of the youth served; and plan services, activities to address identified needs during involvement in YIP programs. Coordinators provide intensive case management and are available 24 hours a day to provide emergency support to youth and their families. Because of the intensity of the work of the Coordinators, it is suggested that they serve 20-25 youth.

The Coordinators provide positive youth development opportunities and supportive services to young people ages 13 through 19 involved in or at high risk of involvement in gangs, violence and other negative behaviors. The Coordinators develop and implement recruitment plans to engage youth in the YIP sit. The Coordinators ensure that participants engage in positive social, physical, academic and cultural activities under the guidance of a caring adult. The Coordinators work to solidify participants’ connections with mainstream society by linking them with permanent educational and economic institutions and opportunities. Coordinators are responsible for facilitating ongoing communication among participants, their families, community residents, and other community stakeholders. Coordinators work with other Yip staff on the Crisis Response Team to prevent cycles of community violence in neighborhoods and schools.