The Youth Opportunity Initiative is based on evidence that there is a critical link between children’s healthy development and educational attainment, ultimately impacting long term health outcomes. As such, services and supports are most effective when provided across a youth development continuum, embedded within schools and neighborhoods, inclusive of families, and responsive to the individualized needs of each young person. Research indicates that youth surrounded by a variety of supports and opportunities such as those provided by the Youth Opportunity partners strengthen their protective factors, encounter less risk, and ultimately show evidence of successfully transitioning into adulthood at higher rates.
The Youth Opportunity partners are based in the areas of the County with the greatest need according to social determinants of health such as high levels of poverty and violence, limited access to quality schools, healthcare, healthy food, and stable housing.
Their shared goals are to:
- Remove barriers and create access to a continuum of culturally responsive, integrated health and wellness services.
- Increase youth life skills, health, and wellbeing.
- Increase youth school performance and/or career readiness to reduce health disparities and maximize health outcomes.
We provide base funding, evaluation, a professional learning community, consultation, and other capacity building supports to the Youth Opportunity organizations.
For more information, please contact Hannah.Moore3@acgov.org
Partnerships
The Youth Opportunity Initiative is a partnership between HSC and the following agencies who are essential, anchor organizations for their communities:
- Berkeley Youth Alternatives
- Destiny Arts Center
- Lincoln Families
- East Bay Asian Youth Center
- Eden Youth and Family Center
- Unity Council – Latino Men and Boys Program
- Youth Uprising