School Focused Youth Services Strengthening links between schools and communities Agency Logo To be ½ DEECD size logo and below it

Policy Context SFYS actively promotes school and agency partnerships, within the context of: Coordinators Agency Policy…..…… A Fairer Victoria Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development DEECD Strategy to Increase School Completion Education Strategy for Koorie Students-Wannik Because Mental Health Matters Vulnerable Youth Framework

What is SFYS? School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) is a State-wide initiative supporting prevention and early intervention strategies for vulnerable young people between 10 to 18 years of age (with a focus on years). This includes young people in all Government, Catholic and Independent schools.

What does SFYS do? Strengthens partnerships between schools and community service organisations, to meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people. Identifies service gaps and develops strategies to respond to needs identified by schools and community service organisations. Provides brokerage funds to support projects in schools and the community that address service gaps.

How can SFYS support schools and community agencies? Building partnerships between schools and community service organisations Creating links-information, knowledge, skills, referral advice and options for staff involved with vulnerable young people. Facilitating networks and forums that schools access to broker community service organisations. Assisting with systemic and individual advocacy.

Partnership Model Informing Process Evidence Mixture of Evidence base and Innovation Individual Local Systemic

SFYS Snapshot The 2006 SFYS evaluation revealed that SFYS: Successfully facilitates local partnerships between schools, agencies and the local community. Supported activities are accessed well by young people across Victoria. Commits and generates significant financial investment in supporting vulnerable young people.

XXX Region Statistics Please insert regional statistics as appropriate-see attached sample.

State-wide Statistics Table 1: The number of young people accessing SFYS activities across Victoria. Financial YearNumber of young people accessing activities funded by SFYS brokerage. Number of young people accessing SFYS non brokerage activities. TOTAL 2006/07Over 43,500 (Includes 1651 young people accessing non group activities.) Over 7500Over 51, /08Over 50,000 (Includes 2500 young people accessing non group activities.) Over 7000Over 57,000 TOTALOver 93,500Over 14,500Over 108,000

State-wide Statistics Table 2: Financial investment generated by SFYS in support activities targeting ‘at risk’ young people across Victoria. Financial Year SFYS brokerage allocations Financial contribution by schools and agencies.TOTAL investment by SFYS, schools and community support services. 2006/07Over $2 million*Over $1.6 million (+Includes over $800,000 in-kind contribution.) *Over $3.6 million 2007/08Over $2 millionOver $1.9 million (+Includes over $700,000 in-kind contributions.) Over $4 million TOTALOver $4 millionOver $3.5 millionOver $7.6 million

How can schools form partnerships with community service organisations? Identify the needs of vulnerable students in schools through a needs analysis. Use the SFYS Coordinator as a source of information and knowledge about local youth networks and available health and welfare services. Look at best practice partnership approaches in schools/ community settings. Build on existing knowledge of current partnerships.

SFYS Themes & Trends The strength of SFYS is its responsiveness to emerging student wellbeing issues. This places the program in a position to: Support successful primary to secondary transitions for young people. Support successful secondary to tertiary education or secondary to work transitions for young people. Support innovative strategies to improve student safety. Increase school connectedness and engagement. Increase support for newly arrived and migrant young people.

Evidence Based Planning Tools Amend below as required………………….. Higher Level Tools for Planning A Fairer Victoria-State Government policy Blueprint For Education Network/Regional Strategic Plans. Student Engagement Policy/ School Engagement Policy from School Based Tools for Planning DEECD School Strategic Plan/ Annual Implementation Plan e.g. Attitudes to School Surveys Optional school assessment tools e.g. Adolescent Coping Scale Community Based Tools for Planning Local Government Area Youth Strategies. Other related research e.g. Health Service research.

For More Information Contact your Regional Program and Service Advisor Or your local SFYS Co-ordinator.