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Program/Service Summary (75 words/3 sentences —not scored)
The City of Miami in collaboration with Miami -Dade County Public Schools operates the "Miami Youth
Council" for high school students to engage youth in school and community settings to enhance their
cognitive, social, and emotional health through leadership development; community engagement through
civic education and service learning; developing civic action plans driven by youth concerns and using
City resources; and job exposure, leading to competence, self -efficacy and pro -social norms.
Statement of Need / Target Population (2 pages-10 points)
TOTAL number of unduplicated children/youth participants to be served
by this program across all sites: __ 75
NEED Youth transitioning into adulthood have challenges in any American community, however, the
diverse youth of the City of Miami face higher hurdles to establishing a healthy sense of self-esteem and
ability to resist high -risk behaviors, learn leadership skills, and prepare for occupations that provide self-
sufficient wages, and leverage public resources to advance them economically. Though many paint
youth -culture as focused on music, money and movie stars, the youth of Miami are savvier about the
issues their community faces, because it surrounds their life; community issues are their issues. By
harnessing this interest in improving the community, Miami Youth Council provides access to the training
listed above and lays the foundation for a more knowledgeable and engaged citizenry that will continue
to actively work to improve the lives of all Miamians. The Miami Youth Council is not targeted at the
academic achievers, but rather those students that have a passion for their community and who will
benefit from the training and exposure to involvement in government, working with caring adults, and
learning marketable skills that the Miami Youth Council. The Miami Youth Council is established in each
of the public high schools within the City limits, chosen because of their community and youth need.
• Miami Edison High School (Little Haiti) School factors: has received a "D" performance rating in 2006.
Youth factors: 40% of the students were referred to dropout prevention programs in 2006-2007.
Community factors: 43% of adults are high school graduates compared with 80% nationwide (US
Census). 42% of families and 54% of female -headed households with children under 18 ears live below
the poverty level. Delinquency: In 2007, crime reports included the following: V 'MENU
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• Miami Jackson. Senior High School (Allabattah) School factors: Increased to a "D" rating in 2007.
Youth factors: 525 of the students were referred to dropout prevention programs in 2006-2007.
Community factors: Only 43% of adults are high school graduates. 41% of the families and 56% of •
female -headed households with children under 18 years live below povert level. Delinquency: From
fir
August 2006-Ma v 2007 there were
leVir
• Miami Senior High .(Little Havana) School factors: Miami High went down to a "0" in 2007 Youth
factors: 23% of students were referred to dropout prevention programs in 2002-2003. Community factors:
43% of adults are high school graduates. 33% of families and 60% of female -headed households with
minorit outh, live below the poverty line. Delinquency: In 2007, there were s=A®Z' g
• Booker T. Washington (Overtownl
iir a
Northwestern High School (Liberty City)
After school, these youth return to homes in the fifth poorest city in the nation (US Census 2005), the
second most dangerous city in terms of crime (FBI 2007), and where public supports that could improve
household sufficiency are unused (only 50% of eligible individuals use Food Stamps, while until recently
only 25% of people claimed their EITC refunds). In 2007, there was a 10% increase in murders, 22%
increase in robberies, and a 1335% increase in firearm offenses (Miami Police Department 2007). The