Key Initiatives
- ACES (Arts, Character, Education & Sports), BCYF's new core program strategy, is designed to provide quality and consistency across programming citywide, while also adapting to meet the specific interests and needs of individual communities through arts, character, education and sports programming.
- The GIRLS Initiative (Growth, Intervention, Respect, Leadership & Support for girls) is designed to expand the BCYF programs, services and opportunities available to Boston's girls, prioritizing girls most in need - girls living in public housing, gang-involved girls and disconnected girls. The GIRLS Initiative also includes the "No More Drama," girls' violence-free summer campaign.
- The Grove Hall/North Dorchester Family Opportunity Network (FON) is a collaboration, led by BCYF and funded by Boston Connects, Inc. to serve families and individuals residing in the Grove Hall and North Dorchester neighborhoods of the Boston Empowerment Zone. FON works to remove barriers to "economic self-sufficiency" and support individuals in obtaining and maintaining Living Wage Jobs.
- Through the Hubs Initiative, BCYF is working to establish our community centers as neighborhood hubs for programming, services and resources. By working with community non-profits and other City of Boston departments, we are bringing new services and resources to our community centers including elder support services, home buying classes and workshops and the Animal Control Spay Wagon as well as a variety of basic city services.
- The BCYF Streetworker Program has been hailed as one of the most effective youth prevention and early intervention services provided to Boston's youth. Initiated in 1990, the program has received national and international praise. The goal of the program is to connect "hard-to-reach" youth to needed services and resources through direct, targeted street outreach.
- The BCYF Summer Strategy 2006 focuses on providing safe places for children and youth to go not just during the day, but also in the evenings and on weekends, particularly in "hot spot" neighborhoods including: Bromley Heath, Charlestown, Dudley, Grove Hall, Mission Hill and Orchard Gardens. The strategy includes expanded community center and pool hours; neighborhood-based outreach workers; a counselor-in-training program specifically for 14 year-olds; Safety Night events for teens; Peace League basketball league; Summer Food Service Outreach Program; Girls' Night Out events; the "No More Drama" girls' summit; and a variety of camps and programs for children.
- The Boston Police Activities League, Inc.
is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to the positive development of the youth of Boston. Through PAL, police officers and young people participate in athletic, social, and educational activities to learn more about each other and their communities. - The B-SMART Initiative combines the forces of several city departments and uses comprehensive problem-solving techniques to address the needs of specific geographic locations throughout the city.
©2008 The City of Boston