AGENDA - OFCY · addition, a great sense of local pride was a driving force to improve communities for children and youth in Oakland. Youth Leadership, Empowerment, & Employment

IncompliancewithOakland’spolicyforpeoplewithchemicalallergies,pleaserefrainfromwearingstronglyscentedproductstomeetings.IncompliancewiththeAmericanDisabilitiesAct,ifyouneedassistancetoparticipateinthemeetingsfortheOaklandFundforChildrenandYouthPlanning&OversightCommittee,pleasecontacttheOaklandFundforChildrenandYouthat510‐238‐6379.Notification48hourspriortothemeetingwillenabletheCityofOaklandtomakereasonablearrangementstoensureaccessibility.Ifyouhavequestionsregardingthisagendaor

relatedmaterials,pleasecontactourofficeatthenumberabove.

Oakland Fund for Children and Youth

Meeting of the Planning and Oversight Committee (POC)

June 6th, 2018 6:00pm‐9:00pm Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room #4

1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd floor, Oakland, CA 94612

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

Introductions & Announcements

Agenda Review/ Modifications

2. Open Forum

3. Adoption of Prior Meeting Minutes action

4. Presentation of OFCY Strategies for FY2019‐2022 and Discussion of Community Engagement and Funding Allocation Planning

action

5. Administrative Matters General Announcements Upcoming Meetings/ Scheduling

6. Adjournment

Public Comment: The POC welcomes you to its meetings and your interest is appreciated.

If you wish to speak before the POC, please fill out a speaker card and hand it to the staff of the POC.

If you wish to speak on a matter not on the agenda, please sign up for Open Forum and wait for your name to be called.

If you wish to speak on a matter on the agenda, please approach the Committee when called, give your name, and your comments.

Please be brief and limit your comments to the specific subject under discussion. Only matters within the POC’s jurisdiction may be addressed. Time limitations shall be at the discretion of the Chair.

MINUTES TO BE APPROVED Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY)

Planning and Oversight Committee (POC) Meeting

Oakland City Hall, 2nd fl, Hearing Room 4 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612

Wednesday, April 11, 2018 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Committee Members present: Francois Barrilleaux, Julie Tinker Ward, Astrid Regalado,

Anakarita Allen, Leann Abdelrahman, Max Chacana, Gerald Williams, Yota Omo‐Sowho, Betty Booker, Eugene Lee, Mayra Chavez

Committee Members absent: Kisha Jackson, Julie Waters, Hilda Ameyaw

Staff Members present: Sandra Taylor, Mike Wetzel, Scott Kim, Sachelle Heavens 1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:25pm.


There were no announcements.

Agenda Review/Modifications

2. Open Forum

There were two public speakers.

3. Adoption of Prior Meeting Minutes

Francois Barrilleaux made a motion to adopt of the meeting minutes from May 17, 2017, September 20, 2017, October 4, 2017, November 1, 2017, February 7, 2018, and February 24, 2018. The motion was seconded by Julie Tinker Ward. The POC unanimously voted to pass the adoption of all meeting minutes.

4. Informational Update from POC Ad‐Hoc Strategic Planning Subcommittee

An announcement was made regarding the upcoming April meeting of the subcommittee and a planned discussion of strategic plan details for the next grant cycle of 2019‐2022 with the 2018‐2019 evaluator, Social Policy Research Associates, SPR.

5. OFCY FY2017‐2018 Mid‐Year Program Evaluation Reports

OFCY Mid‐Year Report FY2017‐2018 by Social Policy Research Associates

2017‐18 School Based After School Interim Data Findings by Public Profit, LLC OFCY presented on findings from the FY2017‐2018 mid‐year report that looked at program enrollment and hours of service achieved across programs and strategies through the first six months of the grant period (July 1 2017 – December 31 2017).




Wednesday, April 11, 2018 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

6. Adoption of OFCY Program Grant Renewals for FY2018‐2019

OFCY staff presented a recommendation for program grant renewals for FY2018‐2019. During the first six months of the grant period of the current year of 2017‐2018, 82% of programs had met minimum performance standards for youth and adult enrollment and hours of service. The remaining programs have made progress towards their goals and have made modifications to their scopes of work during the third quarter (January 1 2018 to March 31 2018).

Anakarita Allen made a motion to approve renewal of 148 program grants for FY 2018‐2019, with modifications as recommended within the grant renewal memo presented by staff, for grant awards totaling $14,797,101. The motion was seconded by Betty Booker. The POC unanimously approved the motion.

7. Administrative Matters

General Announcements The POC was informed of a June 2018 information report to the Oakland City Council regarding the strategic planning for FY 2019‐2022.

Upcoming Meetings/Scheduling May 2 is scheduled as the next regular POC meeting. April 18 was scheduled as the next Strategic Planning Subcommittee meeting.

8. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:48pm.




Wednesday, May 2, 2018 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Committee Members present: Francois Barrilleaux, Julie Tinker Ward, Astrid Regalado, Leann

Abdelrahman, Max Chacana Committee Members absent: Kisha Jackson, Julie Waters, Hilda Ameyaw, Anakarita Allen,

Gerald Williams, Betty Booker, Eugene Lee, Yota Omo‐Sowho, Mayra Chavez

Staff Members present: Sandra Taylor, Mike Wetzel, Sachelle Heavens 1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:22pm.


There were no announcements.

Agenda Review/Modifications

2. Open Forum

There were two public speakers.

3. Adoption of Prior Meeting Minutes

The adoption of the prior meeting minutes of April 11, was deferred to the next meeting due to lack of quorum.

4. Fiscal Update on Kids First! RevenuesOFCY staff announced $16.5‐17M as the anticipated total annual funding amount for the 2019‐2022 grant cycle, starting in FY2019‐2022. Revenue is increasing due to the city’s improved finances and increased revenue from adjustments to the budget, as well as inclusion of additional carryforward monies.

5. Modifications to the FY2018‐2019 OFCY Grant Renewal Packet

OFCY staff discussed a one‐time 3% increase in total grant awards that raised the

funding allocation across 147 programs for FY2018‐2019 to a total of $15,210,000, providing programs with an annual cost of living increase adjustment. One program, Northern California To Prevent Blindness, has declined a continuation grant for 2018‐2019 and was removed from the grant package recommendation going forward to Oakland City Council.




Wednesday, May 2, 2018 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

6. Informational Update on Strategic Planning for FY2019‐2022

OFCY staff presented an update to the POC on strategic planning for FY 2019‐2022. The final community engagement event is scheduled for Thursday May 24th from 5pm‐7pm, and will be at Oakland City Hall.

7. Administrative Matters

General Announcements The POC was informed of a July 2018 informational report to the Oakland City Council regarding the strategic planning for FY 2019‐2022.

Upcoming Meetings/Scheduling June 6th is the next regular POC meeting. July 10 is the scheduled date for an informational report on OFCY strategic planning to be presented to the Life Enrichment Committee of the Oakland City Council.

8. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:36pm.

7800 MacArthur Boulevard | Oakland, CA 94605 | www.communitiesincollaboration.com

Final Report OFCY Strategic Investment Planning Process

Community Engagement

Oakland Fund for Children and Youth |

2

2

Executive Summary Community engagement was an important component of the Strategic Investment Planning process for the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) for the years 2019-2021. To gather community input, there were four community cafés during the months of March and April 2018. The goal of the community cafés was to listen to the community and learn about what is working, what’s not, and how OFCY can continue or strengthen the work. The community cafés were held at different locations throughout the City and as well as during different days and times to ensure community members would have multiple opportunities to participate. The topics varied to cover the strategic priorities of OFCY. OFCY and Communities in Collaboration partnered with the Oakland Youth Advisory Commission (OYAC) to lead the community cafés. Youth commissioners supported each of the cafés by facilitating the discussions and serving as note takers. Where and when were the Community Cafés?

Date Time Location Focus Areas Thursday March 1, 2018

5:00pm – 7:00pm United Roots – Youth Impact Hub 2781 Telegraph Avenue

Youth Leadership, Empowerment, & Employment

Saturday March 10, 2018

11:00am – 1:00pm Tassafaronga Recreational Center 975 85th Avenue

Economic Equity

Tuesday March 13, 2018

4:00pm – 6:00pm Cesar E. Chavez Branch Library 3301 E. 12th Street

Early Childhood, Parent Support, & Student Success

Tuesday April 24, 2018

4:00pm – 6:00pm West Oakland Branch Library 1801 Adeline Street

Arts, Enrichment, & Neighborhood Safety

Who attended the Community Cafés? A total of 142 community members joined the community cafes, representing a cross section of Oakland youth, community members, and service providers. A few chose to attend more than one café. Participants were asked to complete a very simple demographic survey. 38% of the participants identified as female, 14% identified as male, and the rest of the participants chose multiple ways of identifying their gender. Ages ranged from 15 years of age to 67 years of age. There was a small yet significant youth presence representing approximately 16% of all of the participants. Participants were asked their ethnicity, interestingly enough the majority reported multiple ethnicities and this is quite reflective our diverse city. Generally, approximately half of the participants identified as multi-ethnic, 27% identified as Latinx, 20% of the participants identified as Black, 9% as White, and 7% as API.

What were the main themes of the Community Cafés?

At every community café we heard from the community that there are many organizations doing valuable work in the community to support children and youth. We also heard that these programs are in need of additional support to continue holistically serving this vulnerable population. The dedication and


3

3

commitment of adult allies and community leaders was strongly represented in all of the gatherings. In addition, a great sense of local pride was a driving force to improve communities for children and youth in Oakland.

Youth Leadership, Empowerment, & Employment. This first community café was announced as a forum for young people. Participants, both youth and adult allies, shared the importance of creating safe and supportive spaces for young people to lead and become empowered. Participants spoke of not just offering jobs to young people, but also of offering learning opportunities to prepare them for jobs. The importance of mentorship was also a strong theme as was creating new ways to engage with youth with socially innovative programming and services.

Economic Equity. This conversation focused on what types of opportunities are still needed in communities of color, particularly in East Oakland, and how those opportunities might be created. Participants discussed jobs, education, health, and recreational activities. They shared that the lack of such opportunities can lead to economic instability and negative outcomes for youth and families.

Early Childhood, Parent Support, & Student Success. The majority of participants at this café were direct service providers and as such the conversation centered on amplifying the good work being done in the community and improving the sustainability of these programs. Participants spoke about the importance of having supportive systems at points of transition for children and youth. These systems also serve to support parents as they support their children to be successful in school.

Arts, Enrichment, & Neighborhood Safety. Participants shared the need to create safe spaces where youth had the opportunity to express every aspect of their identity and community. These spaces can also provide holistic supports and support other aspect of the lives of young people such as academics, communication skills, social emotional empowerment, and leadership skills. There are several programs that follow this model and are successful. These programs not only support the arts and enrich the lives of youth but are often also community interventions that can promote neighborhood safety.

Conclusion The community engagement process highlighted that OFCY is currently supporting programs that the community supports and believes in. The input of community members and stakeholders confirmed that OFCY’s funding strategies align with the priorities and needs perceived in the community. With its new strategic investment plan, OFCY has the opportunity to continue supporting the successful programs in the city and also to invest in up and coming programs that create safe, creative, holistic spaces for children, youth, and families to thrive.

In gratitude We would like to thank the community partners that made this work possible and powerful.

Oakland Youth Advisory Commission East Oakland Building Healthy Communities

Oakland Public Library United Roots

And all of the community members that attended and participated in the community cafés


4

Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, Strategic Investment Planning Process Final Report on Community Engagement In developing its next three-year strategic investment plan for 2019-2022, the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) sought community input to determine if its funding strategies were aligned with the needs of the community. This engagement is intended to:

• groundtruth whether the current funding strategies are adequate and reflect the need and interest of the community,

• lift up new and promising practices that can be highlighted, • provide an opportunity for feedback from the community, and • inform the community about the role OFCY plays in supporting youth-focused programs in Oakland

OFCY and their strategic investment planning consultants, Social Policy Research, partnered with Communities in Collaboration to plan and implement the community engagements. The Oakland Youth Advisory Commission (OYAC) was asked to participate in the process as well by leading the community cafés and encouraging attendance among their peers. Youth commissioners supported each of the cafés by facilitating the discussions and serving as note takers. To gather community input, OFCY hosted four community cafés during the months of March and April 2018. Community cafés are an effective way to create opportunity for many people to share their views on a given topic in a short amount of time. The goal of the community cafés was to listen to the community and learn about what is working, what’s not, and how OFCY can continue or strengthen the work. The community cafés were held at different locations throughout the City and as well as during different days and times to ensure community members would have multiple opportunities to participate. The topics varied to cover the strategic priorities of OFCY. At each café, the facilitators followed a protocol that guided the discussion of several different key questions on the given topic. Where and when were the Community Cafés? The four community cafes were held across the city at locations, times and days that would be convenient to a variety of stakeholders.

Date Time Location Focus Areas Thursday March 1, 2018

5:00pm – 7:00pm United Roots – Youth Impact Hub 2781 Telegraph Avenue

Youth Leadership, Empowerment, & Employment

Saturday March 10, 2018

11:00am – 1:00pm Tassafaronga Recreational Center 975 85th Avenue

Economic Equity

Tuesday March 13, 2018

4:00pm – 6:00pm Cesar E. Chavez Branch Library 3301 E. 12th Street

Early Childhood, Parent Support, & Student Success

Tuesday April 24, 2018

4:00pm – 6:00pm West Oakland Branch Library 1801 Adeline Street

Arts, Enrichment, & Neighborhood Safety


5

Who attended the Community Cafés? A total of 142 community members joined the community cafes, representing a cross section of Oakland youth, community members, and service providers. A few chose to attend more than one café. The evening café was well attended by youth. Service providers were well represented at the three weekday events, particularly those that were held at the end of the workday. Summary of Community Café outcomes What follows is a summary of the outcomes and themes that arose at each of the four community cafés. Community Café 1 March 1, 2018 Youth-led and Youth-focused Community Café Areas: Youth leadership and Workforce Development Location: Youth Impact Hub Attendance: 60 members of the community The community café held on March 1st, 2018 was the first of a series designed to solicit feedback from the community to inform OFCY’s strategic investment planning process. With a goal of drawing a larger youth presence, this meeting was promoted specifically as a youth-focused forum. The café was youth led and facilitated by members of the Oakland Youth Advisory Commission (OYAC) to help create a safe and supportive environment for young people. This café focused on Youth Development and Empowerment and Workforce Development. Overall, creating safe and nurturning spaces for youth to develop their leadership skills and be expose to job opportunities were highly recommeded. The importance of adult allies as mentors and role models was a recurring theme. High-Level Findings and Sumary Notes The first round of discussion focused on youth leadership and empowerment.

Youth Leadership, Empowerment, & Employment. This first community café was announced as a forum for young people. Participants, both youth and adult allies, shared the importance of creating safe and supportive spaces for young people to lead and become empowered. Participants spoke of not just offering jobs to young people, but also of offering learning opportunities to prepare them for jobs. The importance of mentorship was also a strong theme as was creating new ways to engage with youth with socially innovative programming and services.

When participants were asked to share what youth leadership meant to them, these were the overaching themes: Taking Ownership

• Youth-led intiatives, activiies, and curriculum development • Adult allies allowing youth leaders to lead • Youth leaders taking ownership and being accountable


6

Being a Mentor

• Peer mentoring and creating supportive systems to empower others • Adult allies proving and creating supportive spaces • Supporting skill building • Offering opportunties for youth to share their voice

When participants were asked where they learn to be a leaders in their community, these were the main categories:

• Family (parents, guardians) • Community (peers, friends, community organizations, mentors, teachers) • Lived experience (personal experience, culture)

When participants were asked when and where they felt empowered, these were the main themes:

• Open safe spaces where voices are recognized and heard • Collaborative spaces where young people can collaborate with adult allies • Being knowledgable of life skills created empowerment

Participants were also asked about how OFCY should continue to support youth leadership programs and these were the main themes: Mentorship

• Mentorship programs in the community • Programs that support long-term relationships • Programs that support youth after high school • Programs that leverage knowledge and experience of young people

Innovativation

• Programs that are not the traditional and encourage young people to try new things • Activites that are not the traditional, for example travel programs that would expose youth to other

cultures Social Sustainablity

• Programs that take into account the changing demographics of the City • Programs that can speak to the gentrification of Oakland and the new challanges • Programs that create safe spaces for young people to thrive • Programs that offer support and resources

The second round focused on youth workforce development. Partcipants were asked what it meant to be ready for the workforce and these were the main themes: Soft and Technical Skills

• Time Management


7

• Interviewing • Writing a resume • Financial literacy • Communication skills • Mentally prepared

Opportunities to Explore

• Job fairs • Internships • Role models and mentors • Life coaches • Collaborative spaces

When participants were asked to share the places where Oakland youth were and could learn how to be ready for the workforce, these were some of the main places mentioned:

• Family • Coaches, tutors, mentors • Internships • Life experience • Schools

Participants were asked to share their knowledge of programs or tools, and these are the main themes:

• Mentorship Programs • Job-placement Programs • Career-focused Educational Programs • Exposure Programs • Entrepreneurship Programs • Programs that offer stipends • Good local jobs

Participants were asked how and why should OFCY continue to support youth employment and workforce development programs. Invest in making resources accessible and equitable was the overarching theme:

• Counseling and mentoring • City-wide investments • Resource Centers in different neighborhoods • Support legal services, such as labor and tenant rights

Finally, participants were asked about specific age groups and their needs, below is the list: High school:

● Passionate educators ● Educational internships


8

● College advising ● One to one advising ● Counseling ● Access to college programs

Middle School:

● Learning assessment of how we learn ● Partnerships ● Break/demolish stereotypes for people of color with sports and entertainers ● Increasing number of people of color in diverse careers ● Building habits/study tools

Elementary School (K-5):

● Growth mindset ● Build habits ● Study tools ● Support for classroom size ● Experience for youth in classroom ● Molding ● Social, emotional skill building ● Community support

Community Café 2 March 10, 2018 Areas: Economic Equity Location: Tassafaronga Recreation Center Attendance: 13 members of the community The community café held on March 10th, 2018 was the second of a series designed to solicit feedback from the community to inform OFCY strategic investment planning process. This particular world café focused on economic equity and it was hosted in partnership with the East Oakland Building Healthy Communities. For this special community café, there were two young children participants who attended with their parents, and two service providers. The rest of the participants were members of OYAC, which presented an opportunity to learn from them and gather their feedback.

High-Level Findings and Summary Notes The first round of discussion focused on creating a shared understanding of what equity means and how it translates into the communities. Economic Equity. This conversation focused on what types of opportunities are still needed in communities of color, particularly in East Oakland, and how those opportunities might be created. Participants discussed jobs, education, health, and recreational activities. They shared that the lack of such opportunities can lead to economic instability and negative outcomes for youth and families.


9

Participants were asked what economic equity looks like to them as it relates to children, youth, and families and what types of activities should OFCY fund to support these priorities. Jobs

• Job Training • Jobs with real livable wages • Jobs that are avaialble to young people

Education

• Educaiton that leads to careers and opportunities • Improved and better public schools • Free education

Health

• Supports for mental health • Life skills trainig • Accessible and available healthcare services • Sports • Support for families • Create and support safe spaces for community building events • Clean, safe public spaces • Childcare

When participants were asked what type of direct services families need for their children and youth to support the healthy development of young children, these were their most frequent comments: Learning Opportunities

• Art • Careers • Parenting • Leadership opportunties

Healthy Habits

• Yoga • Healthy eating • Education about drugs

Access

• Sports • Recreational activities • Transportation


10

• Free daycare • Nature

When participants were asked about what support children and familes need to be sucessful in school, these were the most frequent answers: Additional Educational Programming

• After school programs • Peer tutoring programs • Enchirment acticivities • STEM activities • Incentives to encourage attendance • More student-centered cmmunity building activities • Transportation • Study-abroad programs • More college trips • Engaged teachers

When participants were asked about what type of direct services families, children, and youth needed in order to prevent and reduce crime, gang actiity, and violence, the issues and ideas mentioned in the prior conversation still held true in addition to:

• Gardening • Increase restorative justice practices • Camping • Less police involment in schools and communities

Participants were also asked what types of direct services families need to support children and youth transition into adulthood in addition to all the above mentioned ideas:

• Financila literacy • Challange ageism • Increase civic engagement • Apprenticenships

Community Café 3 March 13, 2018 Areas: Early Childhood, Parent Support, and Student Success Location: Cesar Chavez Oakland Public Library Attendance: 51 community members The community café held on March 13th, 2018, this was the third of a series designed to solicit feedback from the community to inform OFCY strategic investment planning process. This particular world café focused on early childhood, parent support, and student success. This community café was well attended and about 85% of the participants were direct service providers.


11

High-Level Findings and Summary Notes Early Childhood, Parent Support, & Student Success. The majority of participants at this café were direct service providers and as such the conversation centered on amplifying the good work being done in the community and improving the sustainability of these programs. Participants spoke about the importance of having supportive systems at points of transition for children and youth. These systems also serve to support parents as they support their children to be successful in school.

In the first round of conversation, participants were asked what were the most presssing issues for children ages 0-5, these were their anwers: Access

• Childcare • Healthcare • Health education • To higher education for teacher • Healthy food • Stable housing • CDC enrollment • Outdoor spaces for play • Safe and clean play indoor spaces • Parent education and training • Summer enrichment programs • Servies in different languages • Financial services • Culturally relevant services • Accessible and easy to understand services • Access to affordable childcare

Participants were asked what issues young people face as they strive for student success, these were their answers:

• Transtion plans for the young children as they move from pre-k to k. • Providing mental health services to all students. • Providing strong educational program. • Having strong teachers that are culturall responsive. • Safe and clean schools for all children. • Services that provide some bare necessities to students and families, such as housing and clothing. • Having food that is culturally responsive. • Support consitenciy in staffing at all schools in all levels. • More supports for LGBTQ familes and students.


12

• More supports for Dreamers. Participants were asked what issues parents face, these were their anwers:

• Economic and emotional stability • Lack of education regarding how to best support their families and students • Stipends for education • Programs to build community, connections, break social isolation • Opportunities to engage with schools in positive ways • Access to transportation • Preventative care, early response • Access to Pre-K • Having opportunities to express their own goals • Access to English programs with childcare • Opportunities to help each other • Peer support

Participants were then asked about what types of programs and services would be helpful to support young children, students, and parents, these were their answers:

• Programs that teach parents how to navigate the educational system, be more engaged, and receive more wrap-around support.

• Accessible programs at reasonable and/or free for families and thier children and youth. • Acessible career programs.

These were the exemplary programs mentioned by the participants:

• OFC • Centro Legal • Clínica de la Raza • EBALDC • Jewish Family Services • YEP • EBAC • Youth Radio • AIA • Proj. Reconnect • Prescott - playgroups • Destiny Arts • Oakland Parents Together • Family paths • Safe Passage • Baby Learning • Spanish Speaking Unity Council


13

• OPL • Prescott Circus • Youth Uprising • Oakland Housing Authority • Fred Finch • Lao Family • Through the Looking Glass

Community Café 4 April 24, 2018 Areas: Arts & Community Safety Location: West Oakland Public Library Branch Attendance: 18 community members The community café held on April 24th, 2018, this was the fourth of a series designed to solicit feedback from the community to inform OFCY strategic investment planning process. This particular world café focused on the arts and community safety. The questions for community safety were co-developed with Oakland Unite to ensure alignment. High-Level Findings and Summary Notes There were two large groups. Groups rotated tables for the second part of the discussion. There were several participants that came late and several that left early. The discussion groups were facilitated by OYAC members. OYAC members also served as note takers. Arts, Enrichment, & Neighborhood Safety. Participants shared the need to create safe spaces where youth had the opportunity to express every aspect of their identity and community. These spaces can also provide holistic supports and support other aspect of the lives of young people such as academics, communication skills, social emotional empowerment, and leadership skills. There are several programs that follow this model and are successful. These programs not only support the arts and enrich the lives of youth but are often also community interventions that can promote neighborhood safety.

The first round of conversations focused on the arts. Participants were asked what types of arts and enrichment program are valuable in their opinion:

• Engineering Pathway and multimedia programs • Turf Inc.: focus on kids • Arts and Media programs • Music programs • Youth Speaks • Attitude Healing Collective • Destiny Arts Center • Cultural Keeps - travel outside country • Dance Arts • Martial Arts • Visual Arts/ Collaborating/ Murals


14

Participants were also asked about the elements that makes these programs successful and their answers centered around these themes:

• Create safe and holistic spaces for youth to express themselves • Support young people in other areas of their lives, such as academics, communication, identity,

emotionally, leadership skills, and overall socialization. When participants were asked about how the arts, enrichment, and recreational programs help youth and children be happy, educated, engaged, powerful and loved community members, they shared that these programs offer opportunities to young people and children to feel safe and free of judgment. These are also the spaces where young people can create friendships and connections. To the participants, these programs served as team and community building spaces. As a follow-up question, participants were then asked how OFCY can continue to support these programs, these were the themes:

• Increase and sustain funding • Act as a connecting agent between programs in the community • Create more spaces for public art displays

The second round of conversations focused on community safety. Particpants were aksed to think of their own and their children’s safety and think of their needs to feel safe and free from violence and crime in their neighborhoods:

• Jobs • Decriminalizing youth • Education • Skill development • Meaningful things to get involved • Adult mentors • Gap year programs • Stable housing • Safe spaces • Self-Awareness • Restorative Justice • Opportunities to see themselves • Trade programs • Community centers • Comprehensive services • CBT therapy • Access to mental health • Culturally responsive service providers • Have youth voices heard • Safe transportation and safe spaces for after school, (nothing for kidstodo)• Creative spaces, peer mentors, recreational centers, makers base

Participants were asked to think specifically of schools:

• More investment in parent involvement • Violence doesn’t exist in a bubble • Not enough conversation across entities who want to end violence. Needs to be cross-collaborative • Have adults be youth allies and know where they are coming from • Sex trafficking is infiltrating our communities • P.B.I.S. for adults to deal with things in schools. • Professional teacher training • S.E.L.


15

• Freeing up the bureaucracy from the funding so that people on ground can do the work. • Culturally relative curriculum • After school programs and partners • Make connections with students • Giving productive ways to spend time • Peer tutoring, debate team, teen center • Taught positive forms of self-expression • Especially hard for high school students to find programs: • Need more programs and spaces • Ability to form partnerships (schools + adults w/community partners) • Access to partnerships and mentorships • High school with younger kids • Adults with high school • Pipelines to work through education • Good administrations are involved with students, supportive, trustworthy

Participants were asked to think about Oakland:

• Teach how to read • Keep kids interested • Alive and free “violence as a disease” • Trauma informed • Restorative justice • De-escalation • Prevention programs • Commuting between school and home • Illegal dumping • School and city integration • Affordable housing for Oakland teachers • Work space with affordable housing • Invest in educational system • Explore ways to maintain livable wages in Oakland • Teachers invested in their job • People doing jobs for passion, not because they have to • Affects mental, physical health of teachers and of students • Better pay for teachers • Teachers who know community • Physical spaces for nonprofits and programs • Capital purchasing • Support a quality staff and safe space • Consistent space • Young people can make their own through art • Study centers for youth • Build relationship with youth and law enforcement = needs funding • More police officers that understand Oakland youth

Participants were also asked what has worked:

• Family approach builds community • A.I.A. • Involvement of faith-based orgs • Going to community


16

• For resources • Makes for a safer community • Ability to understand price rising to compensate workers • Financial aspect • Flexibility within programs for changing times and communities

And finally, participants were asked what more is needed:

• Violence prevention: • Work with parents and family (parent support and engagement) • Restorative justice programs

Conclusion The community engagement process highlighted that OFCY is currently supporting programs that the community supports and believes in. The input of community members and stakeholders confirmed that OFCY’s funding strategies align with the priorities and needs perceived in the community. With its new strategic investment plan, OFCY has the opportunity to continue supporting the successful programs in the city and also to invest in up and coming programs that create safe, creative, holistic spaces for children, youth, and families to thrive.


17

Event photos


18


19


20

Overview of Outreach

4

Community Cafes 3

Provider Focus Groups 20+

Stakeholder Interviews

Youth Impact Hub Tassafaronga

Community Center Cesar Chavez Library West Oakland Library

Early childhood Youth Workforce Afterschool

Agency partners Funders City Council Community Advocates

What did we hear?

What OFCY does is important! Support for OFCY’s current strategies is broad, and overall well supported by community and stakeholders. OFCY is building on strong foundation with past planning and funding strategies that meet community needs.

Oakland residents care. Residents love Oakland, and want to be involved in change-making and advocacy for children, youth, and families. Including parents, youth in design and delivery of programming: key aspect of positive youth development programming.

There is no shortage of need. There is still a need for support across Oakland, from early childhood to older youth. While the city may be changing, there are still disparities in outcomes and needs across many demographics.

Affordability. The rising cost of living puts stress on children, youth and their families. Rising costs also affect providers. Organizations need more resources to cover rent and pay competitive salaries to retain quality staff and reduce staff turnover.

Changing demographics Influence neighborhood identity across the city. There is a declining African American population and increasing Latino and white population, creating tensions around displacement, neighborhood change, and gentrification. Changing populations also require changes to service agencies to provide responsive, culturally and linguistically appropriate services to new populations, while maintaining services to long-term residents with needs

Partnerships and Alignment. OFCY does not operate in a vacuum; the changes that OFCY wants to support are also embraced by key partners across the city.

Safe Environments: Creating safe places for children and youth benefit the whole family and the whole community.

Strategic Planning 2019-2022

Draft Strategies

OFCY Key Funding Goals

OFCY 2019-2022 Funding Strategies

Healthy Development of Young Children

Healthy and Productive Adulthood

Success in School

Positive youth development

Support the Healthy Development of Young Children through preschool education, school readiness programs, physical and behavioral health services, parent education, and case management.

Prepare Young People for a Healthy and Productive Adulthood through case management, physical and behavioral health services, hard-skills training and job placement in high-demand industries, internships, work experience, and leadership development, including civic engagement, service learning, and arts

Help Children and Youth Succeed in School and Graduate from High School by expanding access to after-school academic support and college readiness programs, arts, music, sports, internships, work experience, parent education, and leadership development, including civic engagement, service learning, and arts.

Support positive youth development by investing in programming that embraces positive youth development principles and helps young people with better life outcomes (academics, health, healthy choices & decision-making) though connections with caring adults, leadership development, enriching experiences, and safe spaces.

Parent Engagement and Support

Family Resource Centers

Social/ Emotional Well-being in Pre-school EC Settings

Comprehensive After School

Student Engagement & Success for Elementary & Middle School Students

Year-round Youth Development & Leadership

Summer Programming

High School & Post-Secondary Student Success

Career Awareness & Employment Support

Early Childhood Strategies support children from birth to 8 years of age and their families, and support goals of kindergarten readiness & healthy development of young children.

Parent Engagement and Support

The strategy helps to create and expand supportive programs to meet the needs of families of young children in their neighborhoods and communities. Activities supported include: services such as playgroups, parent-child activities, workshops to strengthen parenting skills and knowledge, early literacy efforts, case management and linkage to resources and services in the neighborhood or larger community, parent engagement services, parent leadership opportunities, home visits, peer connection and community engagement opportunities

Target Population: Parents and caregivers with young children (ages 0-8), low-income, parents of color, immigrants and refugees, services in neighborhoods with higher percentage of children, families, and families with children living in poverty (East Oakland, Fruitvale, West Oakland).

Family Resource Centers

The strategy will create and expand central Family Resource Center (FRC) hubs in Oakland. FRCs services include early childhood playgroups, free or low-cost child care, food and clothing help, and healthcare and health and wellness support. The strategy will support community-based FRCs that also provide developmental screenings, parent and caregiver workshops, and parent leadership and engagement opportunities; and school-based FRCs that will support computer access and literacy workshops, case management, and legal rights assistance services and classes

Target Population: Parents and caregivers with young children (ages 0-8), low-income, parents of color, immigrants and refugees, services in neighborhoods with higher percentage of children, families, and families with children living in poverty, with a strong interest in supporting FRC programming in East Oakland.

Social/ Emotional Well-being in Pre-school EC Settings

Partnering with early care and education programming at OUSD Child Development Centers and Head Start sites, programs will provide young children and their families with individual and group services focused on social-emotional development; and support for pre-school teachers on how to work with kids with high needs, respond appropriately to behavioral issues, and keep young children engaged in pre-school

Target Population: Young children (ages 3-5), their families and caregivers, and early childhood educators at OUSD Child Development Centers and Head Start sites.

Student Success in School Strategies support youth from kindergarten through to post-secondary education. Supports goals of high school graduation, school attendance, and college participation

Comprehensive After School

Supports high-quality, low or no-cost school based after school programs at Oakland public elementary and middle schools that receive state After School Education & Safety Program (ASES) funding or federal 21st Century Funds for after school. This strategy funds a lead agency to coordinate comprehensive academic and enrichment activities at after school sites for single-point-of-access to programming. The strategy provides direct support for families by providing students with safe, supportive, and enriching programming during after school hours.

Target Population: Students attending Oakland public elementary and middle schools with a majority of students qualifying for Free or Reduced Lunch meals.

Student Engagement & Success for Elementary & Middle School Students

Provide enrichment activities for elementary and middle school students that support literacy, STEM, and school attendance. This strategy supports in- and out-of-school activities that can demonstrate connection to literacy gains, STEM activities, and improved attendance as supporting student attachment to school and helping to contribute to academic success.

Target Population: Students attending Oakland public elementary and middle schools with a majority of students qualifying for Free or Reduced Lunch meals. Priority for programs working at or with schools with high demonstrated need and school environmental stress in West and East Oakland.

Positive Youth Development supports programming that provides positive experiences, connections to caring peers and adults, leadership programs and safe places to learn new skills and explore, children and youth will achieve better health, education, and safety outcomes and develop into caring, productive adults.

OFCY has an asset-based approach with Positive Youth Development rather than deficit-based approach in the enabling legislation around ‘preventing and reducing crime, violence and gang involvement in young people’. There is a wealth of research that validates that programs that embrace positive youth development principles and delivery programs through this asset-based approach help young people with better life outcomes (academics, health, healthy choices & decision-making). Programs help close the opportunity gap and directly support youth safety and provide family support by ensuring that children and youth have access to safe and enriching environments

Year-round Youth Development & Leadership

Support year-round youth development and leadership programming that strengthens and builds the capacities and connections of youth by advancing their leadership skills; providing opportunities to explore their voice and community; improving their connections to adults and peers; contributing to their communities through arts, technology, sports, and other enrichment programming; and building on their strengths to develop nonviolent problem-solving. Positive youth development programming targeting hard-to-serve populations or populations with high needs is prioritized.

Target Population: Children and youth ages 5-20 in Oakland. Prioritization for children and youth of color, low-income youth, and programming in East Oakland, Fruitvale, and West Oakland. Priority for hard-to-serve populations including homeless youth, foster youth, commercially sexually exploited children, and other vulnerable groups.

Summer Programming

Provide academic and enrichment opportunities during summer months. This strategy directs funds to school-based and community-based programs that provide children and youth academic and enrichment opportunities that promote learning, community engagement, and the development of youth leadership skills during summer months.

Target Population: Children and youth ages 5-14 in Oakland. Prioritization for children and youth of color, low-income youth, and programming in East Oakland, Fruitvale, and West Oakland.

Older Youth Strategies support youth ages 14-20 by funding programming that helps youth to succeed and graduate high school, go on to post-secondary education and gain employment exposure and experience, supporting OFCY’s goal of helping youth transition to a productive adulthood.

High School & Post-Secondary Student Success

Supports high school persistence and post-secondary student success by funding in-school and community-based programming designed to support older youth attachment to school, achievements in learning, and reductions in out-of-school time, including suspension and truancy. Invests in culturally responsive and targeted models to meet the needs of specific populations, including youth who are at risk of not graduating or who are experiencing disparities in academic outcomes. Programming supports youth transition into high school through to support for youth enrolling and persisting in post-secondary education. Activities will include programming that addresses the social/ emotional well-being of students through case management, mental health services, restorative justice, conflict resolution and other strategies supporting student wellness. Programming aligns and complements efforts supported through the Oakland Promise in improving graduation and post-secondary education outcomes.

Target Population: Oakland youth ages 14-20. Prioritization for youth of color, low-income youth, and programming in East Oakland, Fruitvale, and West Oakland.).

Career Awareness & Employment Support

Providing young people with career-exposure and career-exploration experiences that foster their interest in postsecondary training or educational opportunities. The strategy will support programs that incorporate financial literacy and access into their program design as key components of a successful youth workforce development program.

In-School youth: Year-round programming that complements and supports OUSD’s investment in Career Academies, and provides youth with career exposure, work experience, and internship opportunities.

Out-of-School youth: Comprehensive, supported work experiences for older, out of school youth that face high barriers to self-sufficiency. Programming supporting opportunity youth (out of school and not in employment) will include employment experience along with academic support.

Summer Jobs: Short-term, paid, summer employment opportunities for school-aged youth (14-18) in coordination with the City of Oakland’s Summer Youth Employment activities, to provide youth with direct employment experience during the summer.

Target Population: In-school high school students (ages 14-18) and out-of-school / opportunity youth (ages 16-20). Prioritization for youth of color, low-income youth, and youth residing in East Oakland, Fruitvale, and West Oakland.

Documents

AGENDA - OFCY · addition, a great sense of local pride was a driving force to improve communities for children and youth in Oakland. Youth Leadership, Empowerment, & Employment