Youth & Teens

Friends of the Children connects a salaried, trained professional mentor with children who are statistically the most at-risk for continuing the cycle of poverty in their lives. The organization guarantees that children who enter the program will have a mentor who spends at least 16 hours per month with them, for 12.5 years (from Kindergarten through graduation). Mentors work with children in their communities while focusing on nine Core Assets aimed at the social and emotional development of youth. The program is funded through government grants, philanthropic gifts from foundations and corporations, and through individual donations. Independent researchers have examined the results of the Friends of the Children model, and found positive results. Children in the program show improved social skills and behavior, a higher likelihood of graduation, a lower chance of incarceration, and a 7:1 return on investment through decreased criminal justice and public health costs.

The Matt Urban Center provides a range of housing and community services such as homebuyer programs, senior services, food assistance, and youth after school programming. After school programs offer academic enrichment and development through tutoring, mentorships, cooking lessons, and entrepreneurship classes. There are also recreational programs like theater, sports activities, and bicycle building workshops. Teen students have access to the teen workforce development program. The Matt Urban Center is funded through a combination of public and private funds (i.e. City of Buffalo, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, M&T Bank, etc). In the past year this center has served 690 children through summer programs, after school programming, and teen workforce development. Such programs help to keep youth engaged in positive activities and reduce involvement in behaviors that would put them at-risk.

The P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) Program is a collaborative educational model that has been implemented in many regions across the nation with the goal of getting more young students interested in good paying, entry-level jobs in high growth fields in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). In Buffalo, McKinley High School’s Buffalo Employment Green and Renewable Energy Education Network (BEGREEN) P-TECH program prepares students for jobs in green construction with a focus on carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Through BEGREEN, students earn a high school diploma along with a no-cost, two-year college degree in occupational studies from Alfred State by taking college-level courses. Students can also explore green careers through company tours, mentors, paid internships and other hands-on experiences. In past years, students toured places like KeyBank Center and National Grid's control center to learn first-hand from industry professionals about their job responsibilities and corporate sustainability. The program was funded through a seven-year NYS P-Tech grant that began in 2014.

Established in 1974, the Youth Engaged in Service (YES) volunteer program gives students ages 12-21 opportunities to engage in community service. Students serve a broad array of constituents, including children, older adults, low-income families, persons who are mentally and/or physically challenged, and charitable organizations. Students sign up for activities on a monthly basis. These include visiting libraries to assist with children’s reading activities, visiting nursing homes to assist with recreation programs, helping PTA parents attend meetings by providing child care, visiting the WNY Food Bank to sort food, and volunteering at Habitat for Humanity. The program is funded through a combination of sources, including the Town of Amherst, the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, periodic donations from agencies served, and fundraising efforts.

Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) is a violence prevention program in the state of Massachusetts that targets youth in 11 cities throughout the state, including Boston, Springfield, and Worcester. The initiative targets young men believed to be at risk for violent behavior and involved with firearms. Using a public health approach, the initiative provides these men with services such as counseling, mentoring, and more. American Institutes for Research lauded Massachusetts for being one of the only states to utilize research-based approaches to violent crime reduction at a multi-city level. Between 2012 and 2013, SSYI prevented nearly $15 million in crime victimizations in Boston and Springfield.

The Youth Build Program is a global youth initiative that strives to rebuild communities and people by constructing community centers, affordable housing, schools, and other valuable community assets. To make these developments possible, the program teaches low-income youth construction skills that they can use to give back to their community. The program focuses on people ages 16-24, providing opportunities for those without diplomas to obtain their GED and learn valuable construction skills. As a 501(c)(3) YouthBuild receives funding from public and private donors. The Youth Build Program has constructed more than 32,000 affordable housing units across the US and 74% of participants received high school equivalency diplomas or industry recognized credentials.