2004

2003–Youth Opportunit ies United

Annual Report & Project ion

A C o m p r e h e n s i v e S t r a t e g y u n i t i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y t o m e e t

t h e n e e d s o f o u r y o u t h .

Mission StatementThe mission of the Youth Opportunities United (YOU) Initiative is to have a community

committed philosophically and financially to the well-being, education, and success of

children. Government, schools, businesses, faith-based organizations and individuals

will work together diligently, interacting and sharing ideas and concerns to improve

the quality of life for all citizens. Everyone will be an active participant in promoting a

safer and healthier community. The needs of our children, youth, and families must be

met today in order to have a safe and productive community in the future.

Table of Contents

Letter from Youth Opportunities United.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Executive Summary “The Community’s Challenge”. . . . . . . . . 3

Development: Strategy for Action/Moving Forward.. . . . . . . . 5

Juvenile Delinquency Risk Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Implementation: Target Strategies............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Future Look 2004–2005.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

YOU Income.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

From Youth Opportunities UnitedWelcome to the Youth Opportunities United (YOU) Annual Report and Projection high-lighting the successes and lessons learned during 2003 and plans for 2004.

The key to maintaining progress toward achieving the goals outlined in the YOU Comprehensive Strategy 5-20 Year Plan has been the dedication of many people and organizations. Elected officials and community leaders from Nueces County, the City of Corpus Christi, United Way of the Coastal Bend, the Kenedy Foundation and the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, joined this past year by Work-Force 1, have continued their committment to the development of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Comprehensive Strategy Planning initiative, known locally as Youth Opp-ortunities United. In addition, leaders from school districts and higher education, health and social services, business and professional organizations, area military units, religious organizations and representatives from parent and youth groups continue to collaborate to implement, sustain and endorse comprehensive strategy concepts.

Since publication of the 2001–02 YOU Annual Report, work has progressed toward the development of an effective and efficient integrated services delivery system, assuring quality services for youth and families in need, when in need. Work also continues in identification and analysis of data and best practices focusing on those needs; evaluation based on client outcomes; and professional development for resource providers committed to providing quality care and services. Our challenge for the year to come will be to thrive in a competitive and dynamic environment, continuing the significant steps we have made toward achieving the mission set before us.

In celebration of YOU’s fifth & sixth implementation years, we invite your continued participation and support in making the Coastal Bend a safer and healthier community for our youth and their families. Their success both now and in the future depends on each of us.

Paige DinnYOU Steering Committee

Tom NiskalaCorpus Christi Chamber of Commerce

Jimmy RodriguezYOU Steering Committee

Peter MastrangeloUnited Way of the Coastal Bend

Oscar MartinezWork-Force 1

YOU Executive Committee

2

Executive SummaryCorpus Christi and Nueces County have a long history of citizen involvement in community issues. In 1997, the community joined together as Youth Opportunities United, or YOU, to address four obstacles that youth face in our community:

Family Management Problems and Family Conflict Our community has higher rates of child abuse victimization, domestic violence, and divorce as compared to the State. These conditions interfere with bonding and the development of healthy beliefs and clear standards. They damage the child’s potential for development.

Extreme Economic DeprivationPer capita personal income in 2001 in Nueces County is estimated at $25,091, which is $5,180 less than the national per capita income. Also, the un-employment rate for the County is significantly higher than the State’s. This leaves families under economic stress and unable to provide adequate support for children.

Favorable Parental Attitudes Toward the Problem BehaviorAdult alcohol and drug related arrests continue to be a problem in Nueces County. Also, the number of adults in alcohol and drug treatment units has increased in the County. The increases of alcohol and drug abuse are strikingly clear among adults. It is likely that these adult behaviors are sending a powerful negative message to the children of Nueces County. The long-term effects of alcohol abuse can be seen by the higher death rates due to liver disease and cirrhosis in the County as compared to the State.

Early Initiation of the Problem BehaviorHigher rates of delinquency for the 10 to 14 age range, increasing drug arrests for this age group, frequent higher dropout rates and higher teen pregnancy rates are all indicators of behavioral problems for the community’s youth at an early age.

Comprehensive StrategyYOU partners adopted five principles established by Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to answer these challenges:

1. Strengthen the family to instill moral values and provide guidance and support to children.

2. Support core social institutions in their roles of developing capable, mature, and responsible youth.

3. Promote delinquency prevention as the most cost-effective approach to reducing juvenile delinquency.

4. Intervene immediately and effectively when delinquent behavior occurs to successfully prevent delinquent offenders from becoming chronic offenders or progressively committing more serious and violent crimes.

5. Identify and control the small group of serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders who have committed felony offenses or have failed to respond to the rehabilitation efforts.

The Community ’s Chal lenge

3

Through an intense study of youth and family issues and how their needs are addressed, YOU partners were able to develop workable strategies that concentrated on positive outcomes. Published in 1999, the YOU Comprehensive Strategy 5-20 Year Plan outlines goals and sets timelines for effective change...in programs, in coordination of services, and in how we see the future of our community. YOU partners continue to focus on the following strategies to bring needed support for our youth and their families.

1. Expand and increase the number of programs for children specifically prenatal through age 10.

2. Expand and increase the number of programs that address extreme economic deprivation.

3. Support collaboration as a way to increase adequacy of youth programs.

4. Continue to focus on prevention programs for our youth.

5. Continue data collection and resource assessment research to develop a more complete snapshot of the community’s needs and resources.

6. Coordinate systems and strengthen linkages in order to provide a continuum of phases from early intervention to intermediate sanctions to secure corrections.

Success StoriesResponding to the YOU Comprehensive Strategy 5-20 Year Plan, the following collaborative initiatives have been implimented through leveraging of millions of federal, state and local dollars:

After-School Initiatives

Success by 6‚ and Programs for Pregnant Women, Infants and Toddlers

Juvenile Assessment Center

Safe Communities

YOU Comprehensive Strategy Data Collection Project

Mentor Network

Early Headstart Program

21st Century Grant funding to schools

TAMU-CC Family Life Center

All this has been accomplished over a span of five years. We have seen more after-school programs and public-private partnerships that benefit youth. We have seen local leaders giving young people a voice and a role in our community. We have seen unprecedented collaboration among youth service providers and governmental agencies. But our efforts cannot end with these successes. Our youth still need us—their community—to guide and support them on the road to success.

4

Development

5

Strategy for ActionIn its earliest stages and under the guidance of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), members of YOU planning teams determined that prevention efforts would focus on interventions that:

1. Address identified risk factors to which most children in the community might be exposed.2. Focus on young people exposed to multiple risk factors.3. Address risk and protective factors early in life of young people.4. Address multiple risk factors in multiple domains.5. Create a continuum of prevention and intervention services.6. Reach and communicate effectively with all young people and their families.7. Identify long-term efforts.8. Involve a service delivery system that is unified in its vision of risk- focused prevention.

Along with the commitment to consensus, members also agreed to evaluate, learn from and not be stopped by “issues and barriers”…and to celebrate both individual agency and collaboration successes.

Seven Work Groups established guidelines, researched and reported on data, resources, decision-making systems and linkages, legislative/policy-making and outreach/communication. At work also were Planning/ Monitoring/Evaluation and Youth Involvement Work Groups. Information generated was combined and published in 1999 as the YOU Comprehensive Strategy 5-20 Year Plan. The focus of the plan was the implementation of target projects exemplifying collaborations based on data, research and outcomes within 5-10 years, and a systemic review and reform of the community’s services delivery system over 10-20 years.

The YOU Steering Committee comprised of Work Group Co-chairs and key leaders from county, city, services, business and funding sectors was designated to oversee implementation of the plan. In order to provide support necessary for im-plementation, the Data Collection and Analysis Work Group was formalized in a partnership with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Social Science Research Center and the YOU Grants Development office was established. Initial funding provided through the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor’s Office was directed to pilot projects addressing identified risk factors and to assist in sustaining data collection and grant coordination.

Development

5

Strategy for ActionIn its earliest stages and under the guidance of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), members of YOU planning teams determined that prevention efforts would focus on interventions that:

1. Address identified risk factors to which most children in the community might be exposed.2. Focus on young people exposed to multiple risk factors.3. Address risk and protective factors early in life of young people.4. Address multiple risk factors in multiple domains.5. Create a continuum of prevention and intervention services.6. Reach and communicate effectively with all young people and their families.7. Identify long-term efforts.8. Involve a service delivery system that is unified in its vision of risk- focused prevention.

Along with the commitment to consensus, members also agreed to evaluate, learn from and not be stopped by “issues and barriers”…and to celebrate both individual agency and collaboration successes.

Seven Work Groups established guidelines, researched and reported on data, resources, decision-making systems and linkages, legislative/policy-making and outreach/communication. At work also were Planning/ Monitoring/Evaluation and Youth Involvement Work Groups. Information generated was combined and published in 1999 as the YOU Comprehensive Strategy 5-20 Year Plan. The focus of the plan was the implementation of target projects exemplifying collaborations based on data, research and outcomes within 5-10 years, and a systemic review and reform of the community’s services delivery system over 10-20 years.

The YOU Steering Committee comprised of Work Group Co-chairs and key leaders from county, city, services, business and funding sectors was designated to oversee implementation of the plan. In order to provide support necessary for im-plementation, the Data Collection and Analysis Work Group was formalized in a partnership with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Social Science Research Center and the YOU Grants Development office was established. Initial funding provided through the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor’s Office was directed to pilot projects addressing identified risk factors and to assist in sustaining data collection and grant coordination.

Moving Forward

Since its inception in 1997, YOU participants have maintained a high level of commitment to the principals of collaboration. Members exhibit a clear sense of leadership, process and communication issues. Intentionally, YOU’s greatest strength is the capacity of its membership to recognize a common vision, build consensus and solve problems. The driving force has been a shared commitment to providing young people, both today and in the future, services that are effective and efficient…quality services that are “data-driven, research-based and outcome-focused.”

Success in collaboration has fostered confidence to expand the compre-hensive strategy process further into the community.

In 2000-2001, through a grant from the office of the Governor Criminal Justice Division, YOU expanded data collection and collaboration development into the business and faith-based sectors. A similar grant the following year continued that work and supported the publication in 2002 of the YOU Comprehensive Strategy Youth Development Grant Master Plan outlining collaborative opportunities among business, faith, justice and social service systems.

New and unique collaborative opportunities have strengthened the comm-unity’s capacity to support the YOU Plan.

Expanding its commitment to the strategic planning initiative in 2002, Work-Force 1 joined YOU developing a partnership that has evolved into enhanced support particularly for the YOU Grants Development office. Initially supported by a grant from the Kenedy Foundation through the United Way of the Coastal Bend, the YOU Grants Development Office located at the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, is now financially assisted by Work-Force 1 in conjunction with local support from Kenedy, Earl C. Saims & Coastal Bend Community Foundations.

Today, YOU accepts the challenge of addressing change by providing operational services necessary to accomplish change.

The YOU Steering Committee members and Data Collection and Analysis and Grants Development staff work together to integrate current data with researched best practices, developing projects addressing YOU’s mission. Grants Development focuses on leveraging resources based on measurable outcomes driving the projects. Services are free and open to agencies and organizations committed to addressing identified community risk factors and YOU goals.

As of March 2004, YOU has generated over $15 million in public and private grants impacting over 6000 at-risk youth and low income families.

6

The continuing mission of the Data Collection and Analysis Work Group is to provide to YOU Work Groups and the community as a whole a data based image of the community’s juvenile delinquency risk factors. The Data Work Group, supported by the Data Collection and Analysis Office, Social Science Research Center, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, has collected and analyzed data for 135 indicators relating to 18 risk factors. Added to the data are the results from the YOU Middle School/Junior High Student Survey—2000. The present analysis supports the retention of the Priority Risk Factors adopted by YOU in its 1999 Comprehensive Strategic Plan.

An integrated cluster of four risk factor sets was identified as the group ofPriority Risk Factors for the community.

The priority risk factors and a secondary factor, academic failure, are related to each other by cause and effect and contribute to all five problem behaviors: delinquency, violence, drug use, teen pregnancy, and drop out. The Priority Risk Factors are reported in their order of seriousness for the community.

1. Family Management Problems and Family Conflict are confirmed by higher County rates of family violence, higher rates of child abuse victimization, and higher divorce rates in comparison to the State. For 2002, the rate of confirmed victims of child abuse was almost double in Nueces County with 13.6 percent compared to the State with 7.9 percent. The number of children in foster care and domestic violence victims being served by local agencies has increased. From 1994 and 2002, the number of domestic violence victims served in the County increased 82.7 percent. The YOU survey data indicated that child abuse is highly under reported in Nueces County. According to the YOU survey data the rates of abusive physical discipline are much higher than officially reported rates of child abuse for Nueces County. These risk factors interfere with bonding and the development of healthy beliefs and clear standards. They damage children’s potential for development.

Nueces County Juvenile Delinquency Risk Factors

7

Child Abuse Confirmed Victims

State Nueces

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

01996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Per

1,00

0 C

hild

ren

Families Living in Poverty

25

20

15

10

5

01995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

National State Nueces

Rate of Domestic ViolenceReports

State Nueces County

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

01995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

So

urc

e:

Tex

as U

nif

orm

Cri

me

Re

po

rts

Integrated Cluster of Causes

Family Conflict

ExtremeEconomic

Deprivation

Early Onsetof ProblemBehavoirs

FavorableParental

AttitudesAcademicFailure

The continuing mission of the Data Collection and Analysis Work Group is to provide to YOU Work Groups and the community as a whole a data based image of the community’s juvenile delinquency risk factors. The Data Work Group, supported by the Data Collection and Analysis Office, Social Science Research Center, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, has collected and analyzed data for 135 indicators relating to 18 risk factors. Added to the data are the results from the YOU Middle School/Junior High Student Survey—2000. The present analysis supports the retention of the Priority Risk Factors adopted by YOU in its 1999 Comprehensive Strategic Plan.

An integrated cluster of four risk factor sets was identified as the group ofPriority Risk Factors for the community.

The priority risk factors and a secondary factor, academic failure, are related to each other by cause and effect and contribute to all five problem behaviors: delinquency, violence, drug use, teen pregnancy, and drop out. The Priority Risk Factors are reported in their order of seriousness for the community.

1. Family Management Problems and Family Conflict are confirmed by higher County rates of family violence, higher rates of child abuse victimization, and higher divorce rates in comparison to the State. For 2002, the rate of confirmed victims of child abuse was almost double in Nueces County with 13.6 percent compared to the State with 7.9 percent. The number of children in foster care and domestic violence victims being served by local agencies has increased. From 1994 and 2002, the number of domestic violence victims served in the County increased 82.7 percent. The YOU survey data indicated that child abuse is highly under reported in Nueces County. According to the YOU survey data the rates of abusive physical discipline are much higher than officially reported rates of child abuse for Nueces County. These risk factors interfere with bonding and the development of healthy beliefs and clear standards. They damage children’s potential for development.

Nueces County Juvenile Delinquency Risk Factors

7

Child Abuse Confirmed Victims

State Nueces

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

01996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Per

1,00

0 C

hild

ren

Families Living in Poverty

25

20

15

10

5

01995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

National State Nueces

Rate of Domestic ViolenceReports

State Nueces County

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

01995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

So

urc

e:

Tex

as U

nif

orm

Cri

me

Re

po

rts

Integrated Cluster of Causes

Family Conflict

ExtremeEconomic

Deprivation

Early Onsetof ProblemBehavoirs

FavorableParental

AttitudesAcademicFailure

2. Extreme Economic Deprivation is confirmed by significantly lower per capita income and a higher rate of unemployment for the County when compared to the State. Nueces County’s per capita income is approximately $3,400 lower than the State figure. Also, the County has higher proportions of families in poverty and students from economically disadvantaged families than the State. In 2002, the proportion of Nueces County families in poverty rose to 18.0 percent. The community has not experienced the same level of economic growth as in comparison to that of the State. This leaves families under economic stress and unable to provide adequate support to children. Children grow up in environments conducive to the production of problem behaviors. 3. Favorable Parental Attitudes Toward the Problem Behavior is con-firmed by the increase of adult alcohol related arrests and drug abuse violations from 1995 to 2000. The number of adults in alcohol or drug treatment units has steadily increased in Nueces County. The sale of alcoholic beverages in the County has remained relatively stable. The long-term effects of alcohol abuse can be seen by the higher death rates due to liver disease and cirrhosis in the County as compared to the State. Drug and alcohol use among adults appear to be problematic issues because the children of Nueces County are most likely influenced by these behaviors.

4. Early Initiation of Problem Behavior is confirmed by higher rates of delinquency for the 10 to 14 age range than the State and nation, increasing drug arrests for this same age group, frequent higher dropout rates than the State, and higher teen pregnancy rate than the State. The YOU survey data showed that Nueces County students are carrying guns and knives to school. The survey data also indicated that Nueces County students begin their participation in the problem behaviors of alcohol and drug use at an early age.

8

Per Capita Income

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

National State County

29,000

27,000

25,000

23,000

21,000

19,000

17,000

15,000

$5,180 Gap

Adult Alcohol Related Arrests

Nueces

8,000

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

01996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Deaths Due to Liver Diseaseand Cirrhosis

State Nueces

20

18

16

14

12

10

81996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Per

100,

000

Never

10

11

12

13

14+

11.2%

11.5%

10.5%

7.6%

16%

43%

Age at First Use of Alcohol or DrugsNueces County Students (Year 2000)

The YOU Comprehensive Strategy 5-20 Year Plan focuses attention on target collaborative strategies addressing most or all of the priority risk factor sets and gaps in services identified by the YOU Work Groups. Projects developed from these strategies provide an opportunity to impact problem behaviors by providing protective factors through initiatives that are data driven, research based and outcome focused. Data has begun to indicate that, over the five years since the implementation process was initiated, all risk factors are being addressed and all projects have shown great success.

The following continuing projects or grants awarded to date exemplify the community’s collaborative commitment to strategies that address YOU’s mission of meeting the needs of our children, youth and their families.

Delinquency PreventionContinuing Project

Juvenile Assessment Center ($750,000 cumulative funding since August 2001 from the Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor)The City of Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Assessment Center is a program designed to decrease juvenile crime in Corpus Christi by providing case management services to juveniles at risk of delinquency and to their families. The Center serves as a temporary holding facility for juveniles arrested by law enforcement for violations of curfew or for truancy. While held at the Center, juveniles participate in an intake and assessment process and are given information about services in the community that can help them with their needs. Case management services are offered for three months to the juveniles and their families to assist them with their problems. Case managers meet regularly with the family to plan problem-solving strategies and to monitor the family’s progress. Case managers help families connect with and follow through with needed services in the community.

Early Childhood DevelopmentContinuing Project

Early Head Start Program ($3,858,686 cumulative funding since September 2000 awarded from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)The Nueces County Community Action Agency’s Early Head Start Program provides early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services on a year-round basis to low-income families with children under age three and pregnant women. The program’s goal is to enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; to support parents’ efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and to help parents move toward self-sufficiency.

9

ImplementationTarget Strategies

LiteracyNew Project

Coastal Bend Early Learning Opportunities Project ($689,787 awarded in September 2003 from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)The Success By 6® Coalition’s Coastal Bend Early Learning Opportunities Project is designed to enhance, increase, support, expand and better coordinate early learning opportunities for children and their families in the 12-county Coastal Bend region. The Project addresses the needs of the Coastal Bend region by promoting integrated, family-focused services and coordinated childcare delivery systems. The project will enhance the quality and availability of child care services, support children’s healthy growth and development in safe child care environments, enhance parental choice and involvement in their children’s care, and facilitate the linkage of child care with other community services. The Project will facilitate the development of region-wide systems and collaborative service delivery models that address the most significant needs of the region. The Project will conduct activities that help parents, caregivers, and childcare providers incorporate early learning into the daily lives of young children. The Project will address barriers to the provision of an accessible system of early childhood learning programs in the region.

Community PartnershipsNew Project

Smaller Learning Communities Program ($499,719 awarded in September 2003 from the U.S. Dept. of Education)The Corpus Christi Independent School District Moody High School Smaller Learning Communities Program expands on the existing Academy of Health Science concept by implementing four additional smaller learning community academies that focus on career pathways: 1) the Academy for Pre-Engineering, Mathematics, and Science; 2) the Academy for Industrial Trades and Technology Management; 3) the Academy for Business and Professional Management Services; and 4) the Academy for Arts and Humanities. The academies address three major identified needs: 1) improved academic outcomes for all students; 2) reduction of student disciplinary incidents; and 3) reduction of school dropout rates. The academies will provide the support students need in meeting higher expectations and increased academic rigor. The creation of more personal educational settings will directly address reductions in student violence, drug and alcohol use, and other disciplinary infractions. In addition, enhanced strategies and structures designed to make the school more personal and meaningful for students to be successful, remain in school graduating on time will be provided.

10

Workforce DevelopmentWork-Force 1 Apprenticeship Training Initiative ($109,661 awarded in January 2004 from the Texas Workforce Commission)

Funding will be used to promote, support, and enhance innovative training for four registered apprenticeship programs currently serving the 12-county Coastal Bend region of South Texas. The programs offer pre-apprentice, apprentice, and journey worker training in the electrical, carpentry, masonry, and plumbing industries. The funds will allow for: 1) the development of Technical Center Laboratories to increase students’ skills and knowledge by combining hands-on training with classroom instruction, while learning to use tools effectively and safely; 2) a mobile lab to enhance the plumbing apprenticeship program, which will be used in combination with classroom instruction for apprenticeship training as well as for demonstration purposes at school campuses and community events; 3) a distance education media to support training through tele-communication and video-driven courses; and 4) a marketing campaign specifically targeted to local school trade programs to inform students of registered apprenticeship programs available in the region.

11

Data For SuccessYOU Comprehensive Strategy Data Collection ProjectThe Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, created in 1974 to provide structure for and management of research and community service projects of the College of Arts and Humanities Faculty, is involved in survey research, public education and information campaigns, collection, analysis and reporting from secondary data, and expansion of community resources. Data analysis has allowed the YOU initiative to focus on priority risk factors in Nueces County that contribute to juvenile delinquency. The ongoing collection, analysis, and reporting of data is used in maintaining and updating the Five-Year YOU Comprehensive Strategy Plan for Nueces County.

In 2000, a $60,000 YOU Comprehensive Strategy grant received from the State of Texas Governor’s Office was directed to support the on-going collection, analysis, and reporting of data by the Social Science Research Center to be used in maintaining and updating the Five-Year Youth Opportunities United Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Nueces County.

As of February 2004, Work-Force 1 has contracted with the Social Science Research Center to expand the collection, analysis and reporting of data to the entire Coastal Bend Region which consists of Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio Counties.

The data collection and analysis conducted by the SSRC has demonstrated that

delinquency, juvenile violence, dropout, and teen pregnancy have all declined since

the beginning of the YOU initiative in 1998. This may be considered as evidence

that the comprehensive strategy process as applied in Nueces County—Corpus

Christi is working.

Since 1998, changes have been made in response systems and linkages in regards to early stage juvenile delinquency such as truancy. New after school, early headstart, and healthy families initiatives have been funded and implemented. Resources have been added to or shifted to the community’s response to family conflict. Mentoring efforts have been coordinated and expanded. Considerable attention has been given to improving collaborative efforts in regard to the problems of delinquency, family conflict, dropout, teen pregnancy, and substance abuse. The evidence presented here leads to the conclusion that these activities have reduced risk factors and strengthened protective factors.

12

Future Look 2004–05

13

NetworkingYouth Opportunities United is a dynamic and evolving unified effort to meet the needs of our community’s youth and families. Not content with past successes, YOU participants continue to challenge themselves and the community to continued improvement and growth.

A major geographic expansion of YOU data collection, resource assessment and grant coordination begins in 2004.

Initially concentrating on Corpus Christi and Nueces County, YOU will have the opportunity to expand regionally through its partnership with United Way of the Coastal Bend, Work-Force 1 and its association with education, industry, justice and health and social services reaching far beyond city boundaries.

Efforts to coordinate YOU strategies and projects with regional development initiatives will lead to more effective community collaboration and resource leverage capabilities.

YOU will coordinate its services with United Way of the Coastal Bend and Work-Force 1 community needs assessment and planning initiatives underway in 2004. YOU members will also work alongside the City Commission on Children and Youth, Nueces County Council of Governments, Education Service Center Region 2, and the new Citizens for Educational Excellence in developing service strategies for youth and families through 2004 and into 2005.

Plans are underway to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of YOU’s operational capacity.

YOU protocols will be formalized along guidelines that will streamline day-to-day operational decision-making and enhance Data Collection and Analysis and Grant Coordination functions.

Networking has permitted the integration of the YOU Comprehensive Strategy and analysis in other community planning efforts.

YOU data and concepts were integrated into the Nueces County Community Plan at the Coastal Bend Council of Governments. The 2003 Master Plan of the Corpus Christi Comission for Children and Youth focuses on the primary risk factors and adopts the same mission.

Efforts such as these are productive and promising for continued expansion of support for youth development initiatives that bring services to all youth and families in the Coastal Bend.

14

Youth Opportunities UnitedIncome generated through YOU Grants Development Office

Grant Total Awarded Since 1999 - $15,043,979

City of Corpus Christi

Juvenile Assessment Center Pre-Delinquency Court and Case Management Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 250,000

(Office of the Governor, Juvenile Justice Division)

Coastal Bend Youth City

Challenger Program (Meadows Foundation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 45,500

Transportation Project (Blanche Davis Moore Foundation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 10,000

Communities In Schools, Inc.

Abstinence Education Program (Texas Department of Health). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 270,799

Kids Dress 4 Success Project (Coastal Bend Community Foundation – 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5,000

Kids Dress 4 Success Project (Coastal Bend Community Foundation – 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5,000

Operation of a Youth Center (Coastal Bend Workforce Development Board) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 400,000

Services To At Risk Youth (STAR) Program (Texas Dept. of Protective & Regulatory Services) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 341,417

Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Public Education Network – Citizens for Educational Excellence (Edna McConnell Clark Foundation) . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 38,333

**YOU Comprehensive Strategy Initiative (Office of the Governor-Criminal Justice Div. 2001-2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 150,000

**YOU Comprehensive Strategy Initiative (Office of the Governor-Criminal Justice Div. 2002-2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 150,000

**YOU Comprehensive Strategy Initiative (Office of the Governor-Criminal Justice Div. 2003-2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 150,000

Corpus Christi Early Childhood Development Center

Corpus Christi Early Childhood Development Center (Coastal Bend Community Foundation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5,000

Corpus Christi Independent School District

Miller High School Healthy Families Program (Texas Dept. of Protective & Regulatory Services). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 125,000

Moody HS Smaller Learning Communities (U.S. Dept. of Education) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 499,719

Texas Grants to Reduce Academic Dropouts (Texas Education Agency) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 336,974

Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse-Coastal Bend

Texas State Incentive Program (Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 75,000

Driscoll Children’s Hospital

Healthy Families Program (Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 125,000

Habitat for Humanity-Corpus Christi

Habitat for Humanity (Coastal Bend Community Foundation - 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,500

Habitat for Humanity ReStore Building Project (Coastal Bend Community Foundation – 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 2,500

Habitat for Humanity ReStore Building Project (City of Corpus Christi CDBG Program). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 80,328

Itemized grants awarded from August 2002 to March 2004

Continued on next page

Mission 911

Affordable Housing Program (Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 344,000

Electrical Wiring Program (Coastal Bend Community Foundation). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,500

Handicap Accessibility Ramp (Coastal Bend Community Foundation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000

Mission 911 (John G. & Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation - 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 10,000

Mission 911 (John G. & Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation - 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 25,000

Neighborhood Visions, Inc.

Operation Clean Sweep (Coastal Bend Community Foundation - 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 1,500

Operation Clean Sweep (Coastal Bend Community Foundation - 2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 2,500

Operation Clean Sweep (Ed Rachal Foundation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,500

Nueces County

Regional Solid Waste Grants Program (Coastal Bend Council of Governments) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 19,097

Nueces County Community Action Agency

Early Head Start Program – (U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,448,768

(Perpetual Annualized Funding 2002-2003)

United Way of the Coastal Bend

Coastal Bend Early Learning Opportunities Grant (U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 689,787

Success By 6® Local Sustaining Grant (Bank of America and United Way of America 2002-2003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 100,000

Success By 6® Local Sustaining Grant (Bank of America and United Way of America 2003-2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 70,000

Work-Force 1

Apprenticeship Training Initiative (Texas Workforce Commission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 109,661

**YOU Grant Writer (Coastal Bend Community Foundation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5,000

**YOU Grant Writer (Earl C. Sams Foundation, Inc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 10,000

**YOU Grant Writer (John G. & Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 25,000

SUBTOTAL GRANT FUNDING GENERATED August 2002 – March 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,937,383

SUBTOTAL GRANT FUNDING GENERATED January 1999 – July 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,106,596

GRANT TOTAL AWARDED TO DATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,043,979

Grant Coordination

The YOU Grants Development Office provides support free-of-charge to organizations pursuing grant funds for collaborative

initiatives that address risk factors and protective factors as identified in the YOU Comprehensive Strategy Plan. Since 1999,

through the collaborative efforts of the YOU Grants Development Office, over $15 million in grant funds have been received

in the community for YOU targeted projects. Funding for the YOU Grants Development Office is provided by Work-Force 1, in

conjunction with local foundation support provided by the John G. & Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation, Earl C.

Sams Foundation, and Coastal Bend Community Foundation.

15

Youth Opportunities United1201 North Shoreline Boulevard

Corpus Christi, Texas 78401

(361) 881-1835