The YMCA, UK and KSU: Yes (Youth Engagement and Support) Jefferson County!

The purpose of this grant is to provide life skills programs for homeless and unstably housed youth in Jefferson County, Kentucky’s most urban county. The primary goal is for target youth to increase the number of critical life skills they possess (communication/conflict resolution, decision making/goal setting, stress/anger management, self-responsibility/ boundaries, teamwork, personal safety, healthy lifestyles, workforce preparation) to become more self-sufficient. Short term objectives: youth will have increased awareness/understanding of critical life skills; will provide opportunities for youth to participate in program planning/ implementation/evaluation; and will increase community awareness about homeless youth. Long term objectives: youth will increase their application of critical life skills; youth will show evidence of self-sufficiency; and an increased number of community collaborations working with target youth. Data will be collected using a multi-methods approach. The program model utilized is the YMCA Safe Place Model. This model employs a multidisciplinary Positive Youth Development approach that views youth in the context of family and community and conducts evidence based programming based on the needs of participating youth. The target audience is homeless and unstably housed youth (ages 12-22) participating in the Jefferson County YMCA Shelter House or Matt Kubancik Youth Development Center. A core group of approximately 20 “high context” youth per site will be recruited per year. These youth are heterogeneous and homeless or unstably housed but with potential to become self-sufficient or integrated back into their homes. The core groups are the primary audience for evaluation purposes. The national CYFAR outcome addressed is Teen.