Los Angeles YouthSource Centers

The City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District work in partnership to reengage youth who have dropped out of high school and assist youth who have graduated high school but are not currently employed. The collaboration is primarily based out of the city’s YouthSource Centers, where youth receive a full assessment and are subsequently referred to appropriate education- or employment-related placements.

Components of the collaboration follow:

• Conducting outreach activities to identify youth for services
• Co-locating Los Angeles United School District Pupil Services and attendance counselors at YouthSource Centers
• Infusing a youth-centered approach to assessment and referral to services

Promising practices used in the collaboration include:

• Using research data to inform decision making
• Finding creative solutions to complex systemic challenges
• Conducting frequent needs/resource assessments
• Making smart investments that benefit youth
• Making continuous improvements and addressing sustainability

The collaboration has learned the following lessons during its work:

• Negotiating a shared commitment
• Rolling with resistance

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