1. The Link

2. Mission: The Link's mission is to build a supportive community network that links youth and their families to their inner strength through life skills, education, advocacy, supportive housing, and a dynamic network of social services to transform lives. Our vision is for a future in which supportive communities nurture confident, happy and secure youth.

3. The Link’s Programs Housing and Homeless Services Division: Lindquist Apartments Lincoln Place Transitional Living Program Housing First Scattered Site Safe Harbor Division: Passageways Shelter and Housing Program The Revive Family Program West Metro Regional Navigator Juvenile Justice Division: School Matters Evening Reporting Center Juvenile Supervision Center

4. Juvenile Supervision Center: 24/7 program Run out of Minneapolis City Hall Opened in 2008, operating annual cost of $745,571 In kind donations of space, van and Police Officer time reduce costs

5. Juvenile Supervision Center: Funded and overseen by the Joint Powers that consists of: the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and Minneapolis Public Schools The Joint Powers Board meets twice annually and the JSC workgroup meets monthly to problem solve and coordinate services

6. Juvenile Supervision Center: Youth ages 10-17 dropped off 24/7 by Police Officers Offenses include truancy, curfew and low level offenses that do not warrant detention Youth receive: risk/needs assessment, mental health screening, connections to resources, crisis management, transportation/connection to home/school/safe place, and enriching/educational activities

7. Juvenile Supervision Center: Aftercare services include case management or case stabilization Average length of stay: 99 minutes In 2013, JSC had 2517 youth visits and provided aftercare to over 500 youth. 75% of youth only came to the JSC one time.

8. Questions? Thank you for your interest. Beth Holger-Ambrose, Executive Director bholger-ambrose@thelinkmn.org Blaine Turnbull, Juvenile Supervision Center Program Manager bturnbull@thelinkmn.org www.thelinkmn.org

9. Youth Coordinating Board Downtown Youth Worker Engagement Project YCB= Fall Youth Outreach

10. Brief History The team was initially assembled at the invitation of Minneapolis Public Schools and the Downtown Improvement District. The invite came from our work in 2007 with The Youth Are Here bus, a circulator bus that transported youth to parks, community centers, and libraries. The start date for the team outreach work in downtown Minneapolis was the fall of 2012. The YCB Downtown Outreach Team was charged with creating safe passage and engaging the scores of youth that would be passing through downtown when the Go-To Pass program was implemented in Minneapolis Public Schools, replacing yellow school busses. The team encountered a large population of highly mobile and homeless young people. So we shifted our focus to accommodate this population and provide resources for this group of young people.

11. YCB Youth Outreach Project Youth Street Outreach Team Mission: To engage young people downtown who may be passing through or are in need and connecting them to meaningful activities or resources. Summer Crime Report: 2013 42% Decrease in juvenile crime 8% Decrease for overall violent crime 11% Decrease for late night violent crime

12. YCB= Youth Outreach Project Fall Street Outreach: September 1 st to November 16 th 2013 Summer Street Outreach: June 5 th to October 3rd, 2014 6 youth workers from 3:30pm to 9:00pm 5 days a week coverage for 12 weeks Focus Areas: Nicollet Mall, Warehouse District & Events Overview:

13. YCB Youth Outreach Project  Connect disengaged youth to meaningful activities through GO TO pass conversations  Promote downtown behavior expectation guidelines  Connect youth to opportunities in communities, programs, libraries and neighborhoods, e.g. sporting events, employment opportunities, enrichment opportunities and youth activities.  Continue to use social media “ R.A.G.E. Page” on Facebook to get youth involved and highlight great youth interactions downtown.  Partner with Downtown YMCA and staff to facilitate and offer 1 Open Basketball Gym and Youth Development session for 25 youth once a week after school.  Collaborate with Key youth outreach partners, Juxtaposition Arts, MADDADS, YouthLINK and Streetworks.  Collaborate with City Attorney Chris Dixon and team on the Downtown 100 2.0.  Partner with Downtown Central Library and Best Buy Tech Center staff and security to utilize space on Nicollet Mall and inside Library space to engage youth in opportunities, curtail challenging behaviors and redirect youth.  Bus tokens will be used by the YCB street outreach team to connect disengaged youth to activities, resources and home. They will only be given to disengaged youth between the ages (15yrs to 23yrs). The Purpose is to connect disengaged youth to an activity, resource or to get home immediately from downtown. Youth Engagement Strategies:

14. Awards Local Public Health Hero Award In partnership with Minneapolis Youth Congress Chief Harteau’s 2014 Award of Merit

15. Pop - Up Park Pictures

19. Partners of Downtown Outreach Team Minneapolis Public Schools Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board Downtown Improvement District Minneapolis Police Department Hennepin County District Attorney Mike Freeman

20. Our Website and Contact Cards