The Teen Initiative provides program resources, grant funding, training and technical assistance to Club staff and boards so they can deepen their impact with teens in their communities. Teens are not simply "older children;" they have reached a developmental stage that requires a different strategic approach to recruitment, retention, marketing, staff interaction, use of space, and programming. In additioin, the needs and developmental abilities of younger teens (13-15) vary from those of older teens (16-18). The Teen Initiative helps Clubs increase their outreach to teens and serve them more effectively. Through this process, Clubs often improve their teen score on the Impact Assessment.

 

Club Tech is an ambitious, multi-year initiative to provide all Boys & Girls Clubs with state-of-the-art software; a comprehensive array of programs to help Club professionals build members' computer skills and integrate technology in all core program areas; and extensive, ongoing training for Club professionals. Club Tech helps Clubs incorporate technology in every aspect of their operation. Most importantly, young people develop the technology skills necessary to succeed in school and the job market. Club Tech resources and programs are available throuth YNet, B&GCA;s Website for teens, www.bgcayouthnet.org. Younger members can stay busy with fun, educational activities at YNet Kids Town, http://ynetkids.bgcayouthnet.org.

 

 

The Family PLUS model enables Clubs to partner with families and collaborate with other community agencies to ensure the positive development of youth through programming, resources and support. The model has five key components. Kinship care programming provides knowledge and resources to extended family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) who hae assumed the primary caregiver role. Father involvement programming supports fathers in taking a more active, positive role in their children's lives. Outreach, recruitment and retention activities help Clubs engage and integrate parents, other family members and children into Club life. The Family Advocacy Network (FAN) Club, for parents and caregivers of Club members participating in SMART Moves, empowers parents through leadership, educational and social activities and individual support. Economic opportunity programs help famiy members advance their educations and buld their skills so they can secure stable jobs with increased earnings.

 

These community-based efforts target young people ages 6-18 at high risk of or already involved with delinquency and gangs and direct them to positive alternatives. Clubs collaborate with local partners to mobilize resources, recruit hard-to-reach youth, mainstream them into appropriate Club programming, and monitor their progress through individualized case management. In Deliquency Prevention, Clubs help youth create their own plans for making positive changes; "Success Teams" protect them from negative influences and support them in achieving their goals. Delinquency Intervention gives the juvenile justice system an alternative to incarcerating young people by providing case management and pro-social diversion activities for them at local Clubs. Gang Prevention offers training, resource materials, and technical assistance to Clubs and their community partners to keep young people out of gangs, while Gang Intervention supports Clubs in helping gang-involved youth leave that lifestyle. Targeted Re-entry enables Clubs to help incarcerated youth make a successful transition back into society.