In 2015, Collective Impact joined forces with the SF Police Commission, the Mayor’s Office and SFPD leadership to create a program to get teens out of their neighborhoods and into the city’s work spaces. The Community Safety Initiative adopted a cohort structure so that youth would develop closer relationships and practice teamwork. We know from this experience that these teens and TAY respond best to programming that helps them set and achieve their own goals; supports their resiliency, strengths and assets; connects their personal experiences to broader issues of social justice; and empowers them to affect change in their communities. We identify needs and map goals during our intake process. Our staff remain in close contact with interns and their families--connecting them to resources and support as needed and as often as needed.
These projects are designed to serve 18-24 year olds who live in San Francisco. The TAY we are serving face issues of poverty, substance abuse, lack of financial stability and lack of financial support. The biggest need that our targeted population is in need of is employment and housing because that is how they will establish stability necessary to succeed in their employment placement. After a detailed intake the clients are assessed on whether they are job ready or need more work in order to be placed in a job. Those who are job ready receive weekly one on ones to search, apply and make connections with jobs they may be interested in. The needs around the individuals stability will be addressed through intensive case management and will be measured utilizing the SMART goals established during the intake to track the clients progress weekly.