Collaborations for Boston Youth & Families Mayor Thomas M. Menino National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Washington, DC April 2-3, 2012

Making Progress for Boston’s Youth & Families Better and more streamlined coordination and alignment of resources High level Mayor’s Executive Governance Board for Youth Violence Prevention Stronger partnerships and collaboration at every level creating: Higher quality services for more youth and families, and More coordinated and successful resource development efforts Focusing on measurable results

Achieving Results for Boston’s Youth & Families Youth and families across the City have less disorder and better quality of life due to new Neighborhood Response Teams Youth and families is Bowdoin/Geneva have a stronger neighborhood and access to more services and opportunities through the new Bowdoin/Geneva Community Engagement Plan Youth and their families from underperforming schools are getting targeted services and opportunities at their schools and in their communities through the Circle of Promise Youth have more summer jobs and year round jobs than ever before Earlier identification of at-risk youth and families and connections to needed services will be the result of the new Family Information Center pilot area In addition, Boston Public Schools already has a Leading and Lagging Indicators report that enables the district to identify the students most at risk and target supports to them as early as the 9th grade

Prevention is the Key Collaboration and Integration of Prevention efforts across agencies and strategies: Good and early start Family centered Community-based and School-based Engaged and empowered residents Trauma informed systems of care Focus on youth development and leadership Address disorder and quality of life issues

Prevention: Public Health and Partners Addressing Trauma with Defending Childhood Initiative and other resources: Creating trauma informed systems of care: School, Early Childhood Education, Afterschool Increasing evidence based behavioral health Trauma Treatment Skill development for all frontline staff, community residents, and community leaders on exposure to violence and impact of trauma Providing neighborhood level trauma/crisis response Supporting and engaging residents through: Problem solving, changing social norms regarding violence, and promoting youth leadership Providing resources such as family nurturing programs and services for gang involved youth

Early childhood development Thrive in Five Preventing chronic absenteeism High quality education Acceleration Agenda (Access, Equity, Excellence) Circle of Promise/ Turnaround Schools Achievement gaps Dropout prevention and reengagement Parent support Parent University Family and community outreach workers Welcome services Prevention: Public Schools and Partners

Collaborative, high quality programming at 35 facilities across the City Outreach and intervention by Streetworkers Summer Learning Summer Camps/Programs Boston ROCKS Summer Youth Employment Family Information Center Pilot implementation Early warning indicators Interventions Data tracking Prevention: Boston Centers for Youth & Families and Partners

Proven Partnerships providing: Services for high-risk youth and their families through referrals to YouthConnect social workers Home visits for at-risk students through Operation Homefront Local District partnerships with non-profits, schools, and clergy Enhanced problem solving and community engagement by officers 200K walking beats in the neighborhoods this year 100 new and effective neighborhood watch groups 10% crime reduction goal for the year 12 Safe Street Teams in 12 neighborhoods walking and on bikes School Police and BPD work in partnership Prevention: Police and Partners

Boston’s Plan: Looking Forward for Youth & Families Push the envelope on innovation and excellence in our three goal areas: 1.Increase Information Sharing, communication and coordination across sectors 2.Enhance Civic Engagement at all levels 3.Multi-disciplinary blended strategies including Prevention, Intervention, Enforcement and Reentry Collaboration Works