2007 Annual Report Abstract

A Brief Look at YDN’s 2007 AccomplishmentsFive organizations throughout the region can now deliver YDN’s •successful four-day youth development institute training in their spheres ofinfluence.

An entire school district (Black Oak Mine) has embraced the youth •development model, and received the “100 Best Communities” Award fromAmerica’sPromiseasayouthcenteredcommunity.

City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department now uses the •youth development lens as the way of delivering programs and training staff.YDNalsocreatedtheHumanDevelopmentInstituteforCityStafftohelpbuildanorganizationalculturethatsupportyouthdevelopment.

YDNsupportedsevenSierraHealthFoundationfundedcommunity•coalitions(REACH)whosetthestagetoadvanceyouthdevelopmentin their communities by embracing youth as active resources in the changeprocess.

Countless youth practitioners from dozens of communities are using the •fivesupportsandopportunitiesaspillarsfortheiryouthprograms.

YDN supported development of the Capitol Region RBy21 Coalition, •whoinpartnershipwiththeCityOfficeofYouthDevelopment,CountyOfficeofEducationandChildren’sCoalition,createdaregional“compact”forchildrenandyouth.Inspring2008,thecompactwassignedby220communitystakeholders.

InpartnershipwithRBy21,ElDoradoCountyYouthCommissionand•Center for Civic Participation, YDN developed and delivered a two day trainingfor35youthonhowtogetinvolvedinpolicywork.

InvitedtopartnerwiththeForumforYouthInvestmentandthe•Georgetown Divide Ready by 21 Coalition to promote a regional “Quality Counts” effort that includes training, program assessment and creationofaregionalstrategytosupportprofessionaldevelopment.

WiththehelpofSutterHealthFoundation,YDNcreatedtheYouth•Engagement Learning Community that trained and coached 12 agencies andtheiryouthtoimproveyouthleadershipopportunities.FiveYDNhighschoolinternsco-facilitatedthetrainingswithYDNstaffers.

SierraHealthFoundationinvitedYDNtodevelopthefirstREACHYouth•LeadershipCamp.YDNhelpedorganizeaverysuccessfulexperienceatGrizzly Creek for 65 youth from seven coalitions, representing a wide rangeofcommunitiesandcultures.

“Early in my career with the City of Sacramento I began to hear phrases like youth leadership, youth development and youth voice. I knew that these words meant something so I began to model my program in a way that reflected them. Although I had created a leadership group I wasn’t entirely sure what programs they should lead, and I struggled to break down their barriers between a high risk populations and staff members. YDN gave me the tools and overall vision I needed to truly connect with the program participants and give them a chance to connect with each other. The participants benefitted tremendously because of my YDN training. The leadership group had gained a sense of purpose. The participants all became friends and many shared with me that the program had changed their lives and their futures. Thank you YDN.”

—Christina DeMoss-Giffin, Youth Resource Coordinator, City of Sacramento

ConclusionAs you can see, in 2007 YDN equipped thousands of adults and youths across the Sacramento region with effective training, networking opportunities and policy change strategiestopromotethepositivedevelopmentofouryoungpeople. In2008,inpartnershipwithkeyfundingpartners,wecontinuetoexpandtheregion’scapacityandcommitmenttothepositivedevelopmentofyouth.Bythetime2008closeswewillhavecreatedthemainframeforatrulydynamicyouthdevelopmenttrainer’snetwork,anddeepenedourpartnershipswithREACHsites,HealthProfessionsHighSchool,AreaCongregationsTogether,andStateFundedAfterSchoolandServiceLearningProgramsthroughouttheregion.Wewillhavestrengthened our network of youth providers by upgrading our web page, electronic updatesandnetworkingstrategiesaswellasformalizingYDN’spolicyagenda. On behalf of the Board of Directors and YDN staff, we thank you for your support andencouragementtotheyouthdevelopmentfield.Wehopethatafterreadingtheabstract of the 2007 annual report* you will want to share your gifts and talents with an organization that puts youth at the center of everything it does!

*A full report available on our web site at www.ydnetwork.org.

YDN Annual Report Abstract 2007 1/4

P.O. Box 269003Sacramento, CA 95826-9003

YDNYouthInterns2007

www.ydnetwork.org

Hands-on, Skills-based TrainingsBy equipping our communities’ youth serving workforce and organizations with the youth development tools and resources we can grow responsible, healthyandsuccessfulyouth.In2007,ourprofessionaldevelopmenttrainingstouchedmorepeopleandorganizationsthaneverbeforeinourhistory. ThroughvariousskillsbasedworkshopsandourflagshipYouth Development Institute (YDI ) trainings, we reached over 1,200 individuals,athirdofwhichwereyouth.Inaddition,YDNworkedwithalmost 50 organizations, programs and agencies which in turn serve thousandsofyouth. YDN developed the Human Development Institute’s Train the Trainers program, training 12 staff from the Sacramento Parks Department on facilitation techniques and mastery of four pathways—safety, relationship building,engagementandpersonaldevelopment.Beforetheyearended,thisgroupoftrainersfacilitatedafourdayHDIto30oftheirpeers. TheYouth Engagement Learning Community (YE LC) convened teams of youth and adults from nine regional agencies to participate in intensive youth engagement training, followed by up to 10 hours of customizedcoachingperteam. YDNwashonoredtobeaskedbytheSierraHealthFoundationtoprovidetechnical assistance, trainings, workshops, coaching and resources centered on theyouthdevelopmentapproachtoitssevenREACHCoalitions.Thissupporthelped the coalitions align their work, strengthen their skills and knowledge, andimplementchangesintheircommunitiestoexpandthequantityandqualityofdevelopmentalsupportsandopportunitiesforyouthages10-15.

Promoting Best Practices and Connecting ResourcesYDN’s ongoing networking and support opportunities are a way to give organizations the necessary training and connection they need to continue providingexemplaryyouthprogramsandbettercoordinatetheirservices In2007,YDN hosted five alumni events covering a variety of topics,includingtwoexclusivesessionsforExecutiveDirectorsofYDIAlumniagencies.YDNalsohelpedcoordinateandprovideworkshopsatthree conferences in partnership with Region 3 after school programs, a conference with UC Davis Community and Youth Development Departments,andSierraHealth’sREACHYouthDevelopmentConference. YDN also successfully implemented their “YDI Train the Trainers” program,reaching18stafffromBlackOakMineSchoolDistrict,Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department, Oak Park Multi-Services CenterandtheElDoradoHillsCoalition. Furthermore, YDN created a more dynamic web page and continued to postmonthlye-mailupdatesontrainingsandeventstoitslistserve.

“The effects of the YE LC training and coaching have significantly assisted the FCUSD YE team in modeling high end youth engagement practices through our district’s transition committee. In spring, our students shared information about youth engagement and introduced the youth development model to the school board. Many adults in school leadership roles later contacted the team to share how impressed they were with the presentation, and wanted the team to share information in other district meetings. The presentation has served as a catalyst to other positive opportunities to increase youth engagement through the school district. Adults are beginning to really listen and see just how resourceful and dynamic young people are.”

–Lea Rathbun, Folsom Cordova Unified School District

Youth Leadership Although YDN’s main focus is supporting adult youth workers, 2007 presented more and more opportunities to train youth directly, including Sierra Health Foundation’s REACH youth leadership camp.Thismemorablefourdaycampexperienceserved65youthsand14adultchaperones. YDN again coordinated the Sacramento Youth Leadership Program Camp, which teaches leadership skills to 25 youth from urbanandruralcommunities.Thisyearwesawreturningyouthplayanincreasinglygreaterroleindevelopingandleadingthecamp. YDNalsosupportedfivehighschoolyouthinternswhoplayedmeaningfulrolesinfacilitatingYDNtrainings.

Policy Change: Being a Voice for YouthIn2007,YDNnurturedthedevelopmentoftheCapitalRegionReadyby21 Coalition to insure all youth are ready for college, work and life by the timethey’re21yearsold.WiththegeneroussupportoftheSierraHealthFoundation, RBy21 was able to hire a facilitator for the project, develop a parent resource guide spotlighting local healthy kids survey data, and linkstocommunityresources,andtrained50youthinpolicyengagement.InpartnershipwithCityofSacramento,SacramentoCountyChildren’sCoalition,SacramentoCountyOfficeofEducationaswellasotherRBy21partners, the coalition developed a community compact for children andyouthsuccess.Acommunityconveningtogainpubliccommitmentresultedinover220attendeessigningthecompactin2008. YDN was successful in obtaining approval from the Youth Council oftheWorkforceInvestmentboardtodesignatethehumanservicesworkforceasacriticalindustryintheregion.

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