2021 COMBAT Funding: $68,000.00

In Youth Ambassadors' Own Words

Youth Ambassadors hires youth (ages 14-18), many of whom have a history of multiple trauma exposures and are at risk for violence—either as victims or perpetrators—to participate in work assignments that resemble traditional classroom environments. The focus of Youth Ambassadors' violence prevention efforts include the provision of 21st Century life and job skills, mental health services, social-emotional learning, and exposure to equity and advocacy initiatives. 

Ambassadors participate in an evidence-based learning community with intentional instruction from area adults considered experts in their respective fields. Each week, Ambassadors receive assignments and exercises to increase their value-added market skills, personal responsibility, critical thinking and mental health. The youth are compensated for their participation. Because of this unique aspect (i.e., compensation), the youth receive financial literacy workshops to embed practical financial skills early on.

1:10 Ratio

The specific services to be provided are instruction in 21st Century life and job skills, health, writing and art. Instruction is provided in a 1:10 ratio to improve mentorship, close relationships and promote emotional and literal intelligence. In addition to core classes, the youth will participate in activities such as advocacy groups, discussion panels, group and individual therapy, completing evidence-based clinical scales and assessments.

Our focal point focuses on providing urban core youth with access to safe, secure, positive experiences and access to effective programming to keep youth engaged in beneficial and healthy activities. As a successful, evidence-based, out-of-school time community-based program, our outcomes are aimed at reducing and eliminating violent behavior and promoting prosocial behaviors in an at-risk youth population. 

Evidence-Based Services

Due to increasing community violence, reports of depressed mental health, and rising suicidal ideology, we engage in collaborations to leverage resources toward expanding our reach, addressing systemic trauma, and unabated exposure to violence. Our program includes evidence-based mental health services like trauma-informed physical activities and individual and group therapy using integrative therapy models.  

Ambassadors are offered SPARCS as an employee benefit. SPARCS stands for Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress.  

Expected Outcomes

The outcomes we expect from engagement in our program are:

• normalized community-level interventions that support traumatized youth and enhance resilience,
• increased community violence prevention efforts in urban communities,
• increased youth engagement and investment in urban core social infrastructure,
• experience youth-led pro-social activities.

Providing mental health supports will lead to youth having improved mental health, experiencing reduced anxiety and distress. Successful social-emotional programs create individualized youth personal success plans, improved long-term coping skills, decreased absenteeism, builds character, and lead to career exploration and career growth. Ultimately the desired outcome is anti-violent behavior and a reduction of youth violence.