ACCESS Youth

Truancy prevention: Access Youth's truancy prevention program, initiated in 2013 in partnership with dc public schools (dcps), increases in-seat student attendance rates, reduces truancy and enhances student engagement and performance. Our program managers work full-time in our partner schools with students at risk of truancy, to help them identify their barriers to attendance and develop a plan for improvement. Once enrolled in the program, students receive ongoing support from our full-time, on-site program managers who implement our four-pronged program model: relationship-building, opportunities & incentives, planning & goal setting, and accountability. The program will serve approx. 500 students in the next year, and generates measurable improvements in chronic absenteeism, in-seat attendance and promotion to the next grade level.

Other program services: Access Youth offers additional services and programs as a complement to our core programming (all other program services). This includes our roadmap life skills programming, which delivers weekly sessions focused on building emotional intelligence and key skills students need to succeed in school and beyond. In addition, m.a.d.e (my attitude determines everything) is our highly lauded program for young female students struggling with behavior issues. M.a.d.e. Consists of weekly sessions for students focused on building a sense of sisterhood, through a trauma-informed lens, that empowers them to become leaders in their school and community. Hundreds of the students in our truancy prevention and restorative justice in schools programs participate in these services each year.

Restorative justice in schools: Access Youth's restorative justice in schools program, initiated in 2012, in partnership with dc public schools (dcps), provides mediation and restorative interventions as alternatives to suspension for students struggling with interpersonal conflict and other behavioral concerns. Our program managers work full-time in our partner schools to conduct mediation sessions with students, identify their concerns, and develop a plan to move forward constructively. Students receive support from our full-time, on-site program managers who implement our four-pronged program model: relationship-building, opportunities & incentives, planning & goal setting, and accountability. The program will serve approx. 375 students in the next year, preventing hundreds of unnecessary suspensions, generating improved pro-social behavior, and enabling students to stay engaged in school.