Considerations for the Field

Next Steps:

In the upcoming cycles of R2R grantmaking, there is an opportunity for R2R to increase the level of Positive Youth Development (PYD) services across the county. Expansion of PYD services can meaningfully address socioemotional wellbeing, meet career and vocational needs, promote critical consciousness, and provide case management services and support to youth in need, among other services.

To achieve this goal, R2R will provide expansion grants for current R2R grantees that have the strategic ability and infrastructure necessary to increase our reach and address countywide gaps in services such as:

• The need for youth development service providers in high-needs communities and/or “service deserts” (i.e., Antelope Valley, along the 10 and 60 freeway corridors, and deep into the South Bay and

Wilmington).

• Financial, programmatic, capacity building, and evaluation support for specific programmatic elements required to address community needs (i.e., staffing, implementation, and retention of a mentorship program).

• Address and prevent the historically disproportionate impacts of the juvenile-justice system, foster care, school discipline, welfare system, etc. on Black youth.

R2R will employ the following strategies to address the above:

• Develop and grow the capacity of organizations to serve youth and families through direct support and/or partnership with another organization; and/or resource well-positioned organizations to expand into communities where services do not exist.

• Provide disproportionate investments for disproportionate impacts.

Over-invest in specific programmatic elements required to address community needs (i.e., some communities experience a shortage in capacity to launch or maintain mentorship programs with high fidelity).

• Help organizations attract and retain Black youth in their programs.