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Applied in 2007

Inner Awareness & Skills Training

Vision Youthz

Program Facts

  • Paid (FTE) Staff Working: 1.5
  • Program Participants Last Year: 70
  • Meets about 25 time(s) with each participant per month
  • Participants remain in the program for 6 months

Volunteers

Volunteers per month: 15

Volunteers are trained:

Volunteer Training
AlwaysRarely

Volunteers are actively recruited:

Volunteer Recruiting
AlwaysRarely

Board Activities

  • Formally reviews the performance of the chief executive officer at least once every two years.
  • Formally approves the budget.
  • Ensures that arrangements with outside fund raising firms are made in writing.
  • Receives information about the financial arrangements with such firms and, if applicable, the anticipated portion of the gross proceeds that goes to the organization.
  • Has formally approved a conflict of interest policy and regularly monitors it to ensure adherence.
  • Receives, at least quarterly, the organization's financial statement.
  • Receives, at least annually, an auditor's management letter and report.
  • Convenes an audit committee.

Outcomes & Measures: (self-reported)

Outcome 1
Youth shift their efforts toward positive, life-affirming pursuits.

Measure
Non-recidivism, Youth attend voluntarily, School attendance, Obtaining outside employment, Change in peers from negative to positive, Completing probation requirements

Outcome 2
Youth are aware of the thoughts that underlie their emotions & choices.

Measure
Youth self-report in leadership group, Decrease in violent & criminal behavior, Expression of insights about thought-to-action axis, Attendance of meditation & discussion groups, Inner Awareness coaching notes

Outcome 3
Youth feel connected & valued.

Measure
Youth attend voluntarily, Staff & volunteers know youth individually, Youth bring their friends to program, Alumni return to pay visit to staff and volunteers, Youth are involved long-term, No incidents of violence in program or across gangs, Volunteers form mentoring relationships with youth

Outcome 4
Youth shape & buy into the program.

Measure
Youth leadership council issues recommendations, Youth bring friends to program, Youth respect one another and follow honor code principles, Youth present ideas and learn public speaking

Outcome 5
Youth make & meet personal, educational & employment goals.

Measure
Inner Awareness Coaching notes show before and after progress, Metrics track number and type of goals set and completed, Youth attend school, Youth obtain outside employment, Each youth follows own path created with coaching help, Mentors help with complicated goals

Change Process: (self-reported)

Program participants change as a progression of stages. The first stage typically occurs when the youth first meets us, either while still incarcerated or after release as a referral from the juvenile probation system. In this stage, youth commit to an honor code of respect for others and receive nuts and bolts intensive case management. They are “hired” into the stipend program and therein get incentives for every positive choice they make. They practice silent meditation for the first time, and experience a sense of the sacred, which contrasts the loud and profane of the streetlife they know well. In this stage, they typically burst with inspiration and make big changes that are not sustainable. In the second stage, youth self-sabotage or relapse slightly, as old negative habits and new positive changes compete for their investment. This stage brings integration of who they were and who they are becoming. During this time, youth are supported with intensive inner awareness coaching, weekly meditation/yoga, and Friday youth discussion group. In the third stage, youth find their focus and passion through more advanced inquiry and self-analysis with their coach, fueled by small successes in setting and completing tangible goals. They galvanize their inner world of watching their thoughts and emotions and apply it to explore their outer world through informational interviews and research into areas of interest. Finally, direction takes form as they find outside employment, start their own business, enroll in job training or start college, supported by this loving community.