Agency Selection

The agency that I have chosen for my evaluation is the Youth Empowerment Program in Newport News, Va.​​ This program was founded by the Department of Juvenile Services. The program focuses on the empowerment and behavioral improvement of at-risk youth within the Newport News community.

Target Population, Criteria, and Requirements

The program’s target population is at-risk youth aged 12-17 in the city of Newport News. The participants in the program must meet the criteria to be serviced. The criteria for this program include youth who runaway, abuse substances, involved in defiant behavior, violate their curfew, etc. The Youth Empowerment Program’s focus is youth that are exemplifying defiant behaviors. The program requires that participants be able to attend the program for 30-60 days. The participants must come from an approved referral service and an exit assessment will be given at the end of the program to assess their growth.

Mission and Objectives

The agency’s mission is to provide service, support, and supervision to at-risk youth in New News, VA (Youth Empowerment Program). They want to ensure a positive development and accountability. Their goal is to reach the youth using a holistic approach. They will address their needs using educational, vocational, social, recreational, self-awareness, development activities, and nutritional services.

Their objectives are to provide a safe and structured environment, increase life skills, reinforce academic performance, promote personal, social, and family growth and accountability, and be a catalyst for Recidivism Reduction by providing needed services (Youth Empowerment Program).

Agency Services

            This agency provides participants with curriculums. The curriculums include Moral Reconation Therapy, Anger Management, Aggression Replacement training, etc. With these curriculums, the agency wants to help at-risk youth with character building. Another service this program provides is certification opportunities. The participants can get certifications in STEM, tablet programming, the ServSafe program, and online STEM activities (Youth Empowerment Program). With these certifications, the participants are furthering their education and obtaining job opportunities. Another service this program offers is special activities that will involve them in their community. These activities include working in the community garden, working in community service, and engaging in community activities.

The Youth Empowerment Program uses assessments that are given by the Court Service units to determine the participant’s risks, needs, and strengths. This assessment will help with the placement of the participant. The program also provides job readiness services. The Job Readiness program focuses on preparing the participants for the workforce, while also helping to advance them. The participants will engage in a 28-hour job readiness program. These services keep the children engaged and allow them to be successful.

Other services include alternative school suspension programs, Children in Need of Services, and family involvement services. When students get suspended the Youth Empowerment Program will serve as an alternative place where students will be able to do schoolwork while being suspended (Youth Empowerment Program). The Child in Need of Services includes parent contacts, home visits, and phone calls (Youth Empowerment Program). The family involvement includes a family needs assessment. The assessment will help assist the family with the resources they may need.

Rationale for choosing the Youth Empowerment Program

There are many reasons why I chose this program. The first reason is because this program is in the area, I live in. This is the city and community I plan on serving in my future career. As a future school counselor, students who reside in Newport News will be the population that I assist. I will be helping at-risk students so it will be informative to know how other adults assist at-risk youth.

Another reason why I chose this program was because of the word empowerment in the program’s name. I know many youth programs in Newport News aren’t as engaging with the youth, but it seems like this program is. The program strives to allow at-risk youth to succeed while gaining knowledge about themselves. They provide the youth with access to services that will help guide their future.

References

Youth Empowerment Program. Youth Empowerment Program | Newport News, VA – Official Website. (n.d.). https://www.nnva.gov/2322/Youth-Empowerment-Program