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CITY OF SANTA ANA
<br />improvement using the Youth Asset Survey, applied at intake and after 6 months in the program. The Youth
<br />Asset Survey is wide ly used across the U.S. and known for high reliability.as their assessment tools. We set
<br />a goal for each youth to improve in one internal asset upon re-assessment.
<br />3. Youth are assessed for vulnerability and risk factors using the TAY Vulnerability Index -Service
<br />Prioritization Dec ision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) (Balagot et al., 2019), a nationally-recognized
<br />instrument that co llect s information o n functioning, vulnerability, cmTent and past trauma, and any co-
<br />morbidity issues.
<br />4. We also use the Adolescent Coping Scale (Frydenberg & Lewis, 1998) to evaluate their ability to use
<br />productive coping strategies.
<br />5. The Case Manager assesses youth progress throughout the mentoring program, using both
<br />benclunarks and milestones. Benchmarks are built into the JTS program, marking completion of key
<br />stages and activities, for example, completing a life skills course , preparing a resume or conducting a j ob
<br />interv ie w . Milestones are personal goa ls set by the youth s uch as obtaining a dri ve r 's license, drug
<br />rehabilitation, family reunification or college entrance. Both benchmarks and milestones are critical to
<br />maintain accountability and build youth confidence throughout the program. Our SUFK OC mentors
<br />serve as a guide, and provide each youth a stab le, hea lthy, ttusting, adult relationship. They help the
<br />youth establish personal goals, overcome obstacles, identify and build on their s trengths and obtain the
<br />se lf-confidence needed to achieve and maintain a productive life.
<br />6. At the 12 month check-in (and beyo nd for SA), we assess whether th e youth r emains stably housed,
<br />gainfully employed, and se lf-sufficient. Our goal is l 00 % of youth successfully meet this target. In
<br />2024, 97% of our mentored youth r emained sta b ly housed and self-sufficient at their 12 month check-in.
<br />Our goal is for each client to ultimately find themselves in a sustainable and healthy situation. Once
<br />youth are in a sustainable, healthy situation, we s upport them for p otential setbacks, relapses, new
<br />instance s of homelessness and other challenges. Therefo re, we don 't ever back o ut of their li ves. We
<br />determine a comfor1abl e set of services, counseling, and other suppor1s that a yo uth needs at a given
<br />point in time. All youth are encouraged to remain connected to SUFK-OC staff for the long term, and
<br />many youth in the program continue this relationship for many years and even become mentors
<br />themselves.
<br />9. We assess two specific outcomes for youth re -connected to secondary education. The primary
<br />outcomes are to graduate hi gh school and to become well established, p ost-graduation in co llege, trade
<br />school or viab le work. In 2024 l 00% of our mentored school age you th achieved these goa ls.
<br />SUFK OC serves a diverse population, primaril y BIPOC, and yo uth w ith mental disorders and traumas.
<br />Our mentoring programs assume that the youth have severe obstacles to overcome. SUFK OC 's staff
<br />have a combined 55 years of experience serving homeless and at-ri sk youth in OC and Santa Ana. We
<br />provide the most comprehens ive care possible, w ith extensive training in positive youth development,
<br />trauma-informed methods, behavioral h ealth, coping strategies, and harm reduction education to assist
<br />youth in overcoming obstacles. In add ition, SUFK OC m aintains an extensive network of referrnl
<br />agencies and community serv ice providers that ensures youth receive comprehensive wrap-around
<br />support to overcome the specific obstacles they face ( e.g., legal, fin ancial, educational, behavioral,
<br />mental health, sub stance abuse, trauma, pregnancy, etc.).
<br />5. Paid & Unpaid Work Experience
<br />StandUp for Kids Orange County operates the Workforce Activation Readiness Program (WARP) to
<br />increase the number of gainfully employed 16-24 year-o ld transition age youth in Orange County. Our
<br />program provides j ob ski ll s training, emp loyment navigation, paid internships , paid occ upational
<br />training, and educational s uppor1 in order to ensure youth achieve their academic and empl oyment goals.
<br />Youth a ges 16 and up may participate in th e "Work Activation Readiness Pro g ram " (WARP) providing
<br />EXHIBIT 3
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<br />City Council 10 – 277 7/1/2025
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