ACCESS YOUTH INC
1101 30TH ST NW NO 500, WASHINGTON, DC 200073772 www.accessyouthinc.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF ACCESS YOUTH, INC. IS TO PROVIDE AT-RISK YOUTH WITH ACCESS TO THE SKILLS, SYSTEMS, AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE CURRENTLY WORK TO CURB THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON AT THREE KEY INTERVENTION POINTS: WHEN STUDENT BEHAVIOR PUTS THEM AT RISK OF SUSPENSION, WHEN STUDENTS BEGIN TO EXHIBIT TRUANCY, AND WHEN STUDENTS ARE ARRESTED BY THE POLICE FOR FIRST-TIME LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES. ACCESS YOUTH IS UNIQUE IN OUR PROGRAMMING, APPROACH, AND RESULTS. WE ARE THE LONGEST-RUNNING DIVERSION PROGRAM IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND THE ONLY NONPROFIT PARTNERING WITH DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS (DCPS) TO REDUCE TRUANCY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL AND THE ONLY NONPROFIT HELPING DCPS PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH ALTERNATIVES TO OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION.

ACCESS YOUTH EMPOWERS VULNERABLE YOUTH WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO STAY IN SCHOOL, GRADUATE ON TIME, AND AVOID THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH MEDIATION AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

IN 2013, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ACCESS YOUTH DEVELOPED A TRUANCY PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM USING OUR MEDIATION MODEL TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS' BARRIERS TO ATTENDANCE AND HELP THEM CREATE ATTENDANCE PLANS THAT ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. THE GOAL OF THE TRUANCY PREVENTION PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE IN-SEAT STUDENT ATTENDANCE RATES, REDUCE TRUANCY, AND ENHANCE THE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE. ELIGIBLE STUDENTS IN PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS ARE REFERRED TO ACCESS YOUTH TO SCHEDULE AND CONDUCT A MEDIATION SESSION WITH ALL INVOLVED YOUTH, THEIR PARENTS, AND/OR OTHER RELEVANT PARTIES. STUDENTS LEAVE THE MEDIATION WITH A WRITTEN ATTENDANCE PLAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND ARE THEN MONITORED FOR COMPLIANCE THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. TO DATE, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 300 STUDENTS IN THESE PROGRAMS. PROGRAM SUCCESS IS MEASURED WEEKLY BY TRACKING ATTENDANCE OF THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE ENTERED OUR PROGRAM. STUDENTS RECEIVE TAILORED, ON-SITE SUPPORT TO ENSURE CONSISTENT SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. ON AVERAGE, STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAM HAVE ATTENDANCE RATES TWICE AS HIGH AS THEIR PEERS.

IN 2012, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ACCESS YOUTH DEVELOPED THE SUSPENSION PREVENTION PROGRAM TO ADDRESS STUDENT CONFLICTS AT THE EARLIEST POINT OF INTERVENTION. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE IMPROVING SCHOOL CLIMATE BY DECREASING THE NUMBER OF STUDENT SUSPENSIONS, REDUCING VIOLENCE, INCREASING PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND ENHANCING SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE. ELIGIBLE STUDENTS IN PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS ARE REFERRED TO ACCESS YOUTH TO SCHEDULE AND CONDUCT A MEDIATION SESSION WITH ALL INVOLVED YOUTH, THEIR PARENTS, AND/OR OTHER RELEVANT PARTIES. STUDENTS LEAVE THE MEDIATION WITH A WRITTEN PLAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND ARE THEN MONITORED FOR COMPLIANCE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. PROGRAM SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY COMPLIANCE WITH THE MEDIATION AGREEMENT AND ABILITY TO AVOID SUSPENSION FOR SIMILAR OFFENSES. OF THOSE IN THE SUSPENSION PREVENTION PROGRAM, APPROXIMATELY 80% HAVE AVOIDED SUSPENSION FOR RELEVANT OFFENSES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR SCHOOL YEAR.

ACCESS YOUTH OFFERS ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AS A COMPLEMENT TO OUR CORE PROGRAMMING. THIS INCLUDES OUR YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH EMPOWERS THE YOUTH WE SERVE TO PROVIDE INPUT ON OUR PROGRAMMING AND SHARE THEIR STORIES, IN ORDER TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND SUPPORT REGARDING THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE. THE YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETS AT LEAST MONTHLY AND FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS, UNDERTAKING COMMUNITY PROJECTS, AND ELICITING INSIGHTS THAT WILL HELP US IMPROVE OUR PROGRAMMING.

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