Collaborations forBoston Youth & Families

Mayor Thomas M. Menino

National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention

Washington, DCApril 2-3, 2012

Making Progress for Boston’s Youth & Families Better and more streamlined coordination and alignment

of resources

High level Mayor’s Executive Governance Board for Youth Violence Prevention

Stronger partnerships and collaboration at every level creating: Higher quality services for more youth and families, and More coordinated and successful resource development

efforts

Focusing on measurable results

Achieving Results for Boston’s Youth & Families Youth and families across the City have less disorder and better quality of

life due to new Neighborhood Response Teams

Youth and families is Bowdoin/Geneva have a stronger neighborhood and access to more services and opportunities through the new Bowdoin/Geneva Community Engagement Plan

Youth and their families from underperforming schools are getting targeted services and opportunities at their schools and in their communities through the Circle of Promise

Youth have more summer jobs and year round jobs than ever before

Earlier identification of at-risk youth and families and connections to needed services will be the result of the new Family Information Center pilot area

In addition, Boston Public Schools already has a Leading and Lagging Indicators report that enables the district to identify the students most at risk and target supports to them as early as the 9th grade

Prevention is the Key

Collaboration and Integration of Prevention effortsacross agencies and strategies:

Good and early start Family centered Community-based and School-based Engaged and empowered residents Trauma informed systems of care Focus on youth development and leadership Address disorder and quality of life issues

Prevention: Public Health and Partners

Addressing Trauma with Defending Childhood Initiative and other resources: Creating trauma informed systems of care: School, Early Childhood

Education, Afterschool Increasing evidence based behavioral health Trauma Treatment Skill development for all frontline staff, community residents, and

community leaders on exposure to violence and impact of trauma Providing neighborhood level trauma/crisis response

Supporting and engaging residents through: Problem solving, changing social norms regarding violence, and

promoting youth leadership Providing resources such as family nurturing programs and

services for gang involved youth

Early childhood development Thrive in Five Preventing chronic absenteeism

High quality education Acceleration Agenda (Access, Equity, Excellence) Circle of Promise/ Turnaround Schools Achievement gaps

Dropout prevention and reengagement

Parent support Parent University Family and community outreach workers Welcome services

Prevention: Public Schools and Partners

Collaborative, high quality programming at 35 facilities across the City

Outreach and intervention by Streetworkers

Summer Learning Summer Camps/Programs Boston ROCKS Summer Youth Employment

Family Information Center Pilot implementation Early warning indicators Interventions Data tracking

Prevention: Boston Centers for Youth & Families and Partners

Proven Partnerships providing: Services for high-risk youth and their families through referrals to

YouthConnect social workers Home visits for at-risk students through Operation Homefront Local District partnerships with non-profits, schools, and clergy

Enhanced problem solving and community engagement by officers 200K walking beats in the neighborhoods this year 100 new and effective neighborhood watch groups 10% crime reduction goal for the year 12 Safe Street Teams in 12 neighborhoods walking and on bikes School Police and BPD work in partnership

Prevention: Police and Partners

Boston’s Plan: Looking Forward for Youth & Families

Push the envelope on innovation and excellencein our three goal areas:

1. Increase Information Sharing, communication and coordination across sectors

2. Enhance Civic Engagement at all levels

3. Multi-disciplinary blended strategies including Prevention, Intervention, Enforcement and Reentry

Collaboration Works