Past Initiatives
 While the programs described here are no longer active, many of
the schools and clients assisted take part in current programs
and services offered by the Youth Policy Institute.
- Even Start Family Literacy Program was a partnership with Fenton
Avenue Charter School to provide 32 families with early childhood
and adult education services. Active during the 2005-06 school
year, the program prepared young children (age 0-5) for successful
learning in school while helping parents upgrade their education
and school involvement skills. YPI is operating a similar Pre-Kindergarten
and Family Literacy program in Pacoima.
- ACE Program was an academic assistance program that worked with low achieving students from four LAUSD high
schools in the East San Fernando Valley in 2002-04. Funded by
the U.S. Department of Education through its Community Technology
Center program, ACE tutored and offered homework assistance to
604 students who lacked proficiency on state standardized tests
and were in danger of failing. The ACE Program also offered the
Online Academy, a partnership with Cerro Coso Community College
that helped high school students take online college courses
for both high school and college credit free of charge. Many
of the services provided in this program have been incorporated
into YPI’s 21st
Century Kids After School – Elementary and Secondary and Gaining
Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP) programs.
- YPI has been involved with five Community Technology Center
grants from the U.S. Dept. of Education in L.A., San Francisco,
and Washington, D.C.
- YPI was a lead partner in a $5 million national welfare-to-work
grant from the U.S. Department of Labor from 1999-2002. As
part of this project, YPI placed AmeriCorps VISTA members in
seven cities.
- The Faith-Based and Community Initiative partnered with seven small faith- and community-based organizations
in the East San Fernando Valley. The program helped more than
700 low income residents connect to the resources offered by
WorkSource Centers (One-Stops) in Los Angeles. Funded in 2003-04
by the U.S. Department of Labor, this program allowed YPI to
act as an intermediary for funds and agency services. Over the
course of the year, YPI provided cash subgrants and capacity
training to assist the seven organizations. The training provided
included workshops in budget development, program development
and evaluation, case management, volunteer development, and technology
integration and support. YPI currently operates a similar capacity
building program for nonprofit agencies in Communities
Empowering Youth.
- HOPE VI is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) that targets public housing projects
for revitalization. From 1995-2000, the Youth Policy Institute
partnered in thirteen HOPE VI programs across the country. YPI
acted as a national consultant in the area of supportive services.
YPI’s feature HOPE VI effort was the Ellen Wilson project
in Washington, D.C. Current YPI programs that have greatly benefited
from experience and knowledge gained in these HOPE VI initiatives
include the Neighborhood
Networks project in the San Fernando Gardens public housing
project and the Valley
Family Technology Project.
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