Quality Elements
Youth Development and Support
All activities and services incorporate a youth development approach.
- A broad range of services addresses individual needs
- Activities are asset focused and foster personal identity
- All youth have strong and enduring adult and peer connections
- All youth have safe and stable living arrangements
- All youth are connected to adults, peers, and service
In addition:
- A community network of services and opportunities address individual needs
- Ongoing information and support is provided throughout a youths transition
- All activities are intentionally connected and supported
- Decisions about support are based on developmental abilities
- Peer-to-peer strategies are used in the provision of all services
- A full range of social services and support is available including:
- Physical, mental, and behavioral health services with preparation and support to use them effectively
- Child care that is accessible
- Counseling to address substance abuse and violence
- Transportation that is accessible
- Life skills training and support is available, including:
- Financial literacy, money management, and savings and asset development
- Consumer skills training
- Goal setting
- Responsible parenting
- Communication, conflict resolution, and anger management
- Supporting healthy and stable relationships
- Appropriate appearance and behavior
- Coping skills that enhance resiliency
- All activities foster a sense of personal identity and community responsibility
- Youth-friendly, culturally competent environments exist to support youth engagement
- Personal development supports are in place and promote:
- A healthy sense of cultural and personal identity
- The development of interpersonal and social skills
- Opportunities to learn from mistakes
- Normal, progressive, age-appropriate experiences
- Each youth has a close, positive, and lasting life-long relationship with at least one adult
- Other supportive relationships and community connections are in place
- Permanence and stability in schools, housing, and adult and peer relationships exist
- Youth are supported in their building and understanding of healthy, stable relationships
- Youth are provided opportunities to understand and develop cultural sensitivity through cross-cultural experiences
- Systems and strategies are in place to engage and support families.
- Affordable and safe housing is available
- Youth live in stable living environments
- Youth have the opportunity to complete their education at their chosen schools, regardless of where they live
The YCi Elements of a Comprehensive Local Youth-Serving System chart can be found in the All Youth One System, YCi Guidebook. This guidebook was funded by the California Workforce Investment Board and produced by New Ways to Work.
Funded under a grant/contract supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U. S. Department of Labor, grant/contract #E-9-4-X-XXXX and the California Workforce Investment Board. The opinions contained in this publication are those of the grantee/contractor and do not necessarily reflect those of the U. S. Department of Labor.
Marin Brown, ITOP Project Coordinator
Phone: 707-849-2265
Email: marin.brown@calstat.org