risk factors and encourage positive pathways for
<br />participants.
<br />Restorative Community Circles/Meetings
<br />Quarterly
<br />Law enforcement partners and community agency
<br />representatives will present and engage with NG-YVP
<br />participants in RP Community circles. LE will address the
<br />impact of COVID and encourage goal setting, build
<br />relationships and connections to participants.
<br />Linkages: Community mental health
<br />Ongoing
<br />25% of the 80 NG-YVP participants will be linked to
<br />support, participants who have more
<br />services for more extensive mental health support. NG-
<br />extensive multi -faceted mental health
<br />YVP program will assist with transportation and ensure
<br />need to consistently engage with mental
<br />follow-up of participants.
<br />health practitioners to support recovery
<br />form COVID-19 struggles.
<br />Linkages: Meeting basic needs, in order for
<br />Ongoing
<br />50% of the 80 NG-YVP participants will be linked to
<br />participants to recover from the COVID-19
<br />services to assist them with basic needs such as medical,
<br />struggles we must ensure that basic needs
<br />food or housing/shelter. NG-YVP program will assist with
<br />have been met. Urgent necessities i.e.,
<br />transportation and ensure follow-up of participants.
<br />transportation, food and shelter will also
<br />be provided upon need.
<br />Culmination Events: Research indicates
<br />Twice per
<br />NG-YVP participants will receive t-shirts, customized
<br />that recognizing progress and growth is
<br />year
<br />awards, and incentives to recognize outstanding
<br />critical in effective youth development
<br />participation, follow through and achievements in
<br />efforts. (Hawkins & Catalano)
<br />program, school, family, and community. Two events will
<br />take place where family, law enforcement, and
<br />community partners will join to applaud youth efforts.
<br />Target Population:
<br />The Neutral Ground -Youth Violence Prevention Program is committed to intervening in the lives of youth and young adults who
<br />are at -risk for contact with the justice system and to reduce recidivism for those who have already become juvenile justice
<br />involved. For justice -involved youth, the opportunity for violence prevention is critical in order to redirect the trajectory of at -risk
<br />pathways. The NG-Youth Violence Prevention program will prioritize referrals of at -risk youth who have experienced hardships
<br />due to COVID-19. It is important for youth to have the support necessary to build hope, confidence, and a future that is stable
<br />and safe. The NG-YVP will provide urgent support through case management services which will foster resilience, mental and
<br />physical stability, reduce economic/social barriers, increase family connectedness and support safety and security throughout
<br />violence prone environments. A lack of stability in the environment from involvement in the justice system increases the social
<br />instabilities and family dysfunctions and experiences. (OJJDP, 2010; OJJDP, 2018; Watson et al., 2020). Our diverse community
<br />unfortunately suffers economically; 91% of students are classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged; 99% of its students are of
<br />minority status (96% Hispanic, 1% White, 1% Asian, 1% African American), 60% of students are classified as English Language
<br />Learners and the special education rate is 12% which is among the highest of Orange County school districts. On the average,
<br />86% of the students qualify for Free and reduced Lunch Programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has created struggles with changes
<br />to the on-line learning, job, health, and food insecurities that impact the daily lives of this population.
<br />Due to persistent risk factors across all aspects of life, youth within the qualified service tract are among the highest need for
<br />mental health support, substance abuse disorder treatment and restorative practices. Research indicates that untreated mental
<br />health disorders lead to higher rates of juvenile incarcerations, aggression, school dropout, family dysfunction, and drug abuse. A
<br />Youth Violence Prevention program is therefore needed to serve this population and their families to reduce barriers that are
<br />further increasing these disparities. To be effective, it is imperative to provide guidance, social -emotional support, hope and a
<br />pathway toward change. Prevention is critical to promoting peace and ending the cycles of victimization.
<br />3. Unmet Need
<br />The social determinants of health such as generational poverty, violence, addiction, and delinquency that have impacted this
<br />community adds to the social vulnerability this community represents (CDC, 2021). As the research states above, this population
<br />has faced tremendous barriers to connecting and sustaining their engagement with many programs due to geographic
<br />distances/transportation challenges, cultural disconnects and dissonance, language barriers as well as collective generational
<br />trauma (Watson et al., 2020). In Orange County, Santa Ana has the largest percentage of felony (20%) and misdemeanor (16%)
<br />arrests. Gang
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