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San José Youth Empowerment Alliance

 

What is the San José Youth Empowerment Alliance?

The San José Youth Empowerment Alliance (SJYEA) is the City of San José’s youth violence reduction strategy. Over the past 30 years, the alliance has strategically worked to address the needs of youth and young adults in an effort to reduce youth violence. It is comprised of a broad coalition of residents, school officials, community, faith-based organizations, local law enforcement, and city, county and state government leaders. It brings these diverse stakeholders together in a Collective Impact approach that leverages each group’s expertise as part of a coordinated, interagency effort to curb youth violence in San José.

 Vision

 Safe and healthy youth connected to their families, schools, communities, and their futures

 Mission

Ensure safe and healthy opportunities for youth to realize their hopes and dreams, and become successful and productive in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods

WHAT ARE THE Guiding Principles?

Guiding Principles
  • We value our youth
  • We cannot arrest our way out of this problem
  • We will address this community challenge with a community response
  • We will hold our youth accountable for their actions and assist them to get back on the right path
  • We will not give up on any youth and are committed to facilitating personal transformation

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE?

Policy Team Technical Team
Sets strategic direction, provides resources, establishes goals, monitors progress. Co-chaired by the mayor and police chief, it consists of government department heads and senior officials, school district leaders, community-based organizations and faith-based and neighborhood leaders. The Policy Team has an Interagency Subcommittee, a Community Engagement Subcommittee, and a Technical Team Subcommittee. Represents community, comprising over 150 members from over 70 agencies, implementing the continuum of prevention, intervention, diversion, reentry, healing.

For more information about the Technical Team membership process, click here. 

What programs and services are available?

The SJYEA invests in both community-based programming and City-based intervention and neighborhood services for youth ages 6-24. This diverse service delivery approach meets the needs of youth, young adults, families, and residents wherever they are or whatever their needs may be.

Community-Based Programming

Service  Description 
San José Bringing Everyone's Strengths Together (BEST) Grant BEST funds qualified nonprofit service providers across five eligible service areas supporting community-based programs that serve youth and young adults ages 6-24 and strive to build on youth strengths and reduce their risk for involvement in gangs and violence.
Safe Summer Initiative Grant (SSIG) Funds micro-grants during the summer months to support prosocial, recreational, and education programs for youth to create opportunities for youth to have new experiences and develop new skills.

City Youth Intervention Services

Service  Description 
Hospital Linked Intervention Trauma to Triumph Connects victims of assault or gang-related violence to peer intervention case management services to provide critical support, prevent re-victimization, and help break the cycle of violence
Clean Slate Tattoo Removal Helps youth with prior gang involvement remove their gang-related tattoos and provides support and life skill development services
Safe School Campus Initiative Program Offers crisis response to prevent and de-escalate incidents of violence on and around school campuses and provides youth with positive role models, family support, referrals to needed resources, pro-social activities, and conflict mediation
Female Intervention Team Provides gender responsive intervention services to support healthy personal and social goals to females ages 11-24 who are referred by juvenile court, juvenile probation, and social districts
San José Works Youth Jobs Initiative Connects youth ages 15-18 who reside in one of San José's designated opportunity neighborhoods with valuable work experience opportunities 
Late Night Gym Provides safe, positive evening recreation activities for youth at four gym locations and distributes information to youth on other services including mental health services, life skills classes, job training, tattoo removal, record clearance, and/or substance use counseling

Youth Violence Prevention Resources

 Bullying Prevention
Santa Clara County of Education The resources and information are available to school and community members to assist in addressing bullying behavior and building safer learning environments.
California Department of Education Bullying prevention training materials, publications and resources, including community-based organizations, for educators, parents, and community members for recognizing bullying behavior and approaches for determining how to respond.
YMCA of Silicon Valley Learn the ABC's of dealing with bullies.
San José Police Department Crime Prevention In order to assist local schools in the prevention of bullying and the potential associated violence the Crime Prevention Unit offers a bullying presentation. Presentations are offered for Teachers, Students, Parents and Community groups. Topics include, but are not limited to, roots of bullying, bullying styles, gender issues, intervention and prevention. 
 Gun Violence Prevention
Prevention Institute Prevention Institute’s recommendations to prevent gun violence begin with attention to reducing immediate risks related to guns, broaden to address the underlying contributors to gun violence, and then address the prevention infrastructure necessary to ensure effectiveness.
Everytown Everytown recommends evidence-based solutions. Their research shows that common-sense public safety policies can reduce gun violence and save lives.
Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office Raise the Red Flag - Gun violence restraining order PSA
Sandy Hook Promise Sandy Hook Promise is a national nonprofit organization founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Gifford's Law Center Giffords Law Center produces leading-edge analysis and research that explores the complexities of our country’s gun violence epidemic.
San José Police Department - School Safety and Education The School Safety and Education Unit (SSEU) is responsible for contributing to the safety of school age children as they travel to and from school.
Child Sex Trafficking Prevention 
San José Police Department - Human Trafficking Task Force
County of Santa Clara Office of the Sheriff
Community Solutions
Dating Violence Prevention
AACI Asian Women's Home Asian Women’s Home serves survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Help is available in multiple languages and dialects.
Santa Clara County Public Health Explore SafeDatingSCC to find ways to play a role in preventing teen dating violence and intimate partner violence.
 Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Prevention
Santa Clara County Social Services Agency The Child Abuse & Neglect Center receives and responds to reports of abuse or neglect connected to children and youth.
San José Police Department The San José Police Department, in conjunction with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, agrees to respond to acts of domestic violence as crimes. Victims of domestic violence will be treated with respect and dignity and will be given all available assistance by law enforcement personnel responding to an incident of domestic violence.
Next Door Solutions Comprehensive, compassionate, bilingual services are available free of charge to all women, men, LGBTQ and individuals across the gender spectrum and of varying abilities.
Safe Chat Silicon Valley Safe Chat Silicon Valley (SafeChatSV) is a confidential online chat platform for people that have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence or intimate partner violence to connect with an advocate for support.
YWCA YWCA is creating a safer, more just world, by offering emergency, transitional, and long-term housing, crisis hotlines, medical and legal advocacy, and other services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence so survivors can regain stability and as they rebuild their lives.
Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention
County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Suicide Prevention Program has the mission of reducing and preventing suicides in the County of Santa Clara by bringing community awareness to the issue and engaging in community prevention efforts.
San Jose Behavioral Health San Jose Behavioral Health helps individuals struggling with self-harm build a strong foundation for healing and recovery.
Santa Clara County Harm Reduction Program Harm reduction programs are proven to save lives, help those with substance use disorders get needed support when they are ready, prevent overdose death, and support communities in reducing the negative consequences associated with drug use.

Additional RESOURCES

Priority Neighborhoods