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SafeFutures Youth Center 

Description

SafeFutures Youth Center operates under its innovative Comprehensive Family Model - a culturally competent support system for moderate to high risk youth that is inclusive of their entire environment - families, schools, judicial courts, employers, and other community service providers. Our services are focused on primarily, but not limited to, low-income refugee/immigrant youth and their families in the greater Seattle, White Center, Skyway and South King County areas. SFYC's prevention and intervention programs and services aim to reduce youths' involvement in the juvenile justice system, gangs, and school truancy and drop out.

Mission Statement
The mission of SafeFutures Youth Center is to create a caring extended family atmosphere at a center that provides the highest quality services, in order to fully develop the potential of everyone who enters through our doors.
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SafeFutures Youth Center
6337 35th Ave SW 
Seattle 
WA
98126-3003 
(206) 938-9606 

Sorya Svy 
Executive Director 

Programs

SafeFutures Youth Center Programs

Case Management
Multi-ethnic (English speaking) and bilingual in three Southeast Asian languages (Cambodian, Mien, and Lao): SFYC's case management unit focuses on youth at moderate to high risk of gang involvement, juvenile justice involvement, and/or academic dropout/failure. It consists of two youth case managers (bilingual in Cambodian, Lao and Mien). Case management services provide individual attention by recruiting and enrolling youth with to increase resiliency factors and encouraging their academic success and social skills development. Upon enrollment, an Individual Action/Service Plan is developed with the youth that includes six domains of development: Individual Behavior, Juvenile Justice, Peer Group, Academic Achievement, Family Management, and Life Skills.

Motivating Youth to Succeed in Academics (MYSA)
After school programming is available Monday - Friday from 3pm-6pm. An Academic Services Coordinator oversees tutoring and academic enrichment activities and performs follow-up activities within the schools. Best practice models (i.e. alcohol and other drug prevention education) and other supportive services (i.e. peer and gender-based groups, employment assistance, community service projects, and younger youth mentoring) are incorporated for further support.

Leadership Development
SFYC operates two leadership development teams under the best practice model, The Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets. It is a strengths-based approach involving the entire family and promotes intergenerational relationships and community building efforts through four major project/activity areas:
1) individual sessions;
2) community events/collaborative projects;
3) service projects; and
4) workshops/meetings.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Our most recent achievements in Academic Support includes 100% of eligible youth graduating from high school for school year ending in 2012.  Our goal for students to achieve outcomes included 91% of youth meeting indicators of success in improved grades, progression to the next grade, participation in positive social activities - leadership groups, enrollment in literary projects (Young Urban Authors), The Science Club (in collaboration with Neighborhood House), and others.

Funding is needed for general support of our Comprehensive Family Model.

Evaluation


SafeFutures Youth Center (SFYC) provides culturally-relevant case management, academic enrichment, leadership development, and summer employment programs to youth in southwest and southeast Seattle as well as White Center. SafeFutures targets court-involved youth and those at-risk of gang involvement. The two largest demographic groups served by SafeFutures are Southeast Asians and East Africans, but the center also serves many Latino and African-American youth and families.

Use of Best Practices
SafeFutures academic enrichment program (Motivating Youth to Succeed in Academics, or MYSA) provides tutoring, one-on-one mentoring, and individualized academic palnning aimed at decreasing barriers to student learning and increasing academic performance, school attendance, and pro-social behaviors. This program serves approximately 200 youth on an annual basis, 4-5 times/week.

Accessibility and Cultural Competency
SafeFutures has intentionally expanded its outreach to diverse East African immigrant communities in order to gain more understanding of their needs. As a result the number of East African youth and parents participating in SafeFutures programs has steadily increased.

SFYC parent programs combine case management with education-awareness workshops. SafeFutures staff serve as liaisons between immigrant parents and school staff, helping parents learn to navigate the school system and understand what students need to be college and career ready.

Collaboration
SFYC maintains strong connections to local public schools, both as referral sources and as resources for tracking and supporting youth academic progress. Through an agreement with the Seattle school district, SafeFutures staff has access to The Source, an online database that includes information about student attendance, grades, and other information critical to student progress and graduation.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
3/10/2013 $7,500.00support general operating expenses.
6/10/2011 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/10/2009 $30,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/10/2007 $30,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/16/2004 $25,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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