After School Alternatives
Program Location: Syracuse
Eligibility: High school students, particularly those at risk of dropping out of school (i.e. at least one year behind their same age peers in academic credits); those with mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges; those at risk of violence; and those involved in the justice system
Description:
After School Alternatives is designed to allow students to discover their likes, dislikes, and previously unexplored talents, and develop skills and behaviors to be successful as they transition to adulthood.
Programming is provided Monday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., allowing for a seamless transfer from the regular school day. The first 30-minute segment focuses on transition activities, such as signing in, enjoying a healthy snack, having one-on-one meetings with staff, getting extra help with homework, and touching base with daytime teachers. One to two hour long workshops are held between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Two-month mini-workshops are offered in topics such as creative arts, poetry, karate, music, and graphic design. However, most workshops are a semester or more in length, including but not limited to:
- wellness
- nutrition and cooking
- job skills training
- STEP dance
- hip-hop dance
- career exploration
- violence prevention
- academic enrichment
Program goals include:
- enhancing participants’ social, emotional, academic, and vocational competencies
- building up participants’ credits earned toward high school graduation and job skills
- reducing negative and health-compromising behaviors, such as violence, criminal activity, and alcohol and substance use
- improving school engagement
- decreasing suspension and truancy rates
- providing parents and youth with a safe after school environment
- exposing students to positive opportunities
- increasing parents’ participation in the program
Contact: Kimber Gunn, Director of Youth Services Syracuse, 315-422-5638 x293, kgunn@communityalternatives.org
Justice Community
Program Location: New York City
Eligibility: Youth ages 16 – 24 with current or former criminal justice involvement residing in East New York or surrounding neighborhoods
Description:
Justice Community engages young adults ages 16 – 24 in subsidized community benefit projects. All participants have either current or former criminal justice involvement, and reside in East New York or surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods. Participants work to improve the health, safety, beauty, and sustainability of East New York through a combination of educational, vocational, team, and civic engagement experiences.
Participation in the Justice Community is voluntary. Members must be willing and able to participate for a minimum of 20 hours per week for three to six months, followed by up to six months of follow-up services, in whatever frequency they need. They can continue their participation in civic activities during the follow-up period. Participants receive weekly stipends to support their program and community engagement.
Good Shepherd Services (GSS), a youth development, education, and family service agency that provides services throughout New York City, has partnered in this initiative with CCA. GSS provides educational and vocational support services at their East New York site, while CCA provides case management, financial literacy and life skills workshops, civic engagement opportunities, community benefits projects, internships, and unsubsidized job placements.
Contact: Laurel Gwizdak-Rinaldi, Director, Youth Services NYC, 718-858-9658 x442, lrinaldi@communityalternatives.org
Next STEPS
Program Location: New York City
Eligibility: Youth ages 16 – 24; those residing in or near the Ingersoll Housing Development have priority enrollment
Description:
CCA provides a free mentoring program for youth residing in and around the Ingersoll Community. A team of Credible Messenger Mentors work one-on-one with youth to build positive relationships, engage in healthy recreational activities, and set goals for the future.
Youth participate in two group workshops per week and one individual activity with their mentor. During group meetings, youth cook meals together, play sports, and take part in discussions based on the evidence-based Interactive Journaling curriculum. During one-on-one sessions, youth and their mentors participate in recreational activities such as attending baseball games, watching movies, and visiting amusement parks. Youth receive MetroCards and a stipend for their participation.
Contact: Laurel Gwizdak-Rinaldi, Director, Youth Services NYC, 718-858-9658 x442, lrinaldi@communityalternatives.org
Pathways
Program Location: New York City
Eligibility: Youth ages 16 – 21 detained at the Rikers Island Facility
Description:
In Partnership with Friends of Island Academy, CCA provides work readiness and career awareness workshops for youth 16-21 detained at the Rikers Island Facility. The workshops are led by credible “Career Mentors” representing diverse professions including art, music, and fashion. Youth participate in hands-on activities to build new skills while exploring careers based on their interests. Activities include beat-making, music production, and fashion design utilizing software such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Logic Pro. Simultaneously, youth develop Employment Action Plans that outline their short-term goals and action steps to secure employment immediately following their release from the Rikers Island Facility.
Contact: Laurel Gwizdak-Rinaldi, Director, Youth Services NYC, 718-858-9658 x442, lrinaldi@communityalternatives.org
Sexual Health Education
Program Location: New York City
Eligibility: Justice-involved youth and youth disconnected from school
Description:
The Sexual Health Education program provides justice-involved youth and youth disconnected from the traditional school setting with comprehensive, evidence-based, age-appropriate sexual health education. The program also implements evidence-based or best practice parent education strategies to improve parent child communication on sexual health topics that include education on contraception.
Program goals include:
- increasing the percentage of youth and young adults who receive preventive reproductive health care services
- ensuring access to confidential reproductive health and family planning services for youth and young adults
- delivering comprehensive, evidence-based, age appropriate sexual health education
- reducing health disparities and increasing knowledge and awareness of issues faced by our target population
- reducing HIV and viral hepatitis infections, increasing condom acceptance, and normalizing routine testing
- training youth and young adults to be change agents in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and social justice
CCA provides a variety of services to achieve these goals, including:
- educating youth and young adults in schools, detention facilities, and community-based organizations throughout NYC with the Be Proud! Be Responsible! intervention
- creating awareness and action campaigns through social media and community outreach
- providing and tracking reproductive health care referrals
- facilitating sexual health and healthy relationship curricula tailored to youth
- leading a comprehensive and culturally responsive Peer Educator and Peer Advisory services focused on reproductive health and social justice
- providing Capacity Building and Parent Education to educate parents, caregivers and youth serving programs
- support period equity by providing free menstrual products to youth in programming
Contact: Laurel Gwizdak Rinaldi, Director, Youth Services NYC, 718-858-9658 x442, lrinaldi@communityalternatives.org
School’s Out New York City
Program Location: New York City
Eligibility: Youth in Belmont or Crossroads Detention Facilities
Description:
The Belmont School’s Out New York City (SONYC) program is a project of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and is designed as a pathway to success for youth housed in non-secure detention and secure detention.
CCA SONYC staff and subcontractors are highly trained professionals who demonstrate caring, appreciation, acceptance, and constructive guidance. They build supportive relationships with youth through programs focused on structured fun and cultural enrichment. SONYC activities engage youth quickly, teach them new skills, and promote mastery of skills that interest them. Weekly sessions touch on a variety of subject areas, including:
- music
- drama
- dance
- poetry writing
- arts
- physical fitness
- leadership development
- career and college exploration
Contact: Laurel Gwizdak-Rinaldi, Director, Youth Services NYC, 718-858-9658 x442, lrinaldi@communityalternatives.org
Student Advocacy Program
Program Location: Syracuse
Eligibility: Students referred to a Superintendent’s Hearing, and their parents/guardians
Description:
CCA’s Student Advocacy Program assists Syracuse City School District (SCSD) students and their parents/guardians navigate and engage in the disciplinary process of a Superintendent’s Hearing. Students are referred to a Superintendent’s Hearing for possible long-term out-of-school suspension shortly after a student is alleged to have violated the school district’s Code of Conduct, Character, and Support.
Program objectives are to provide guidance and advocacy to parents/guardians and students, by helping them understand their legal rights and responsibilities through this disciplinary process and increasing their engagement throughout the proceeding.
Upon receiving a referral from the SCSD, Transition Advocates meet with the parents/guardians and the student to introduce the program and to prepare for the disciplinary hearing. They discuss the incident that led to the suspension in order to understand the perspective and needs of the student. Along with the student’s education and discipline records, the Transition Advocate may gather information about the student from outside service providers in order to gain a thorough understanding of the student’s strengths and needs.
The Transition Advocate accompanies the family at the Superintendent’s Hearing to help the student share their perspective of the incident, ensure that the student’s legal rights are upheld, and assist in identifying a consequence that holds the student accountable in a manner designed to promote educational engagement and positive behavior. Whenever appropriate, the Transition Advocate works with teachers and administrators to find alternatives to out-of-school suspension to keep the student engaged in mainstream school. They help school and community-based programs identify services, supports, and activities that can help students be successful in school.
If the student receives special education services, the advocate also prepares the student and parent/guardian for a manifestation determination review (MDR), reviews special education documents at the consent of the family, and advocates for the student and family during the MDR portion of the superintendent’s hearing as well.
The Student Advocacy Program is funded through a contract with the school district.
Contact: Kimber Gunn, Director of Youth Services Syracuse, 315-422-5638 x293, kgunn@communityalternatives.org
Transition Coach Program
Program Location: Syracuse
Eligibility: Students returning to Syracuse City School District schools after long-term out-of-school suspension, treatment, or detention
Description:
The Transition Coach Program provides transitional advocacy/coaching services to students returning to Syracuse City School District mainstream schools after long-term out-of-school suspension, as well as students returning from a residential treatment facility/program, or a juvenile/adult correctional facility. This includes Hillbrook Detention Facility, an Office of Children and Family Services facility, the Onondaga Correctional Facility, or a Department of Corrections and Community Supervision facility.
The program’s objective is to ensure that students transitioning back into mainstream school from a long-term suspension or placement outside of the Syracuse City School District are academically and behaviorally successful. The program is also designed to support the district’s Code of Conduct, Character, and Supports, and enable the district to implement the goals set forth in the Code regarding students’ transition back to mainstream school.
Transition Advocates serve as the liaison with the returning student, parent, and school staff as well as a link to other district and community resources. Ideally, the transitional coach services begin several weeks prior to the student’s return to mainstream school and continue for six months following their return.
Contact: Kimber Gunn, Director of Youth Services Syracuse, 315-422-5638 x293, kgunn@communityalternatives.org
Violence Prevention Training
Program Location: Syracuse
Eligibility: Middle and high school-aged students at high risk of involvement in violence
Description:
The Violence Prevention Training program provides education and peer educator training to middle and high school-aged students at high risk of involvement in violence. Violence prevention education includes skill building in alternatives to violence to promote a change in attitudes and behavior.
Peer facilitators attend 16 – 32 hours of training in which they are taught about the sobering statistics of youth violence, techniques to control emotions, triggers which exacerbate violence between teens, decision making skills, and violence prevention techniques through team building activities, role-playing, and group facilitation. Upon completion of the training, students graduate as peer facilitators and receive a stipend for participation.
The graduates are then given an opportunity to serve other youth organizations by training their peers in violence prevention including how to identify different types of violence, ways to decrease violent behavior, and what they can do to prevent violence in their homes and communities. All peer-led education is done under the supervision of staff. The presentations are about an hour long and of no cost to the community agencies.
Contact: Kimber Gunn, Director of Youth Services Syracuse, 315-422-5638 x293, kgunn@communityalternatives.org