Every year hundreds of adjudicated youth in Philadelphia complete their community service requirements while placed in programs outside the city, enhancing communities that they are not connected with and have not previously harmed. Simultaneously, there are far too many Philadelphia youth who are unable to exit probation within a reasonable time frame because they lack the means to pay back restitution fees required by the courts.
Philadelphia Youth in Service is designed to address both of these challenges by providing adjudicated youth the opportunity to have a positive impact on Philadelphia communities while earning fiscal credits towards their required restitution. |
Our Mission
The mission of Philadelphia Youth in Service (PYS) is to provide youth in transition the opportunity to complete their community service requirement and pay back their restitution so they can move quickly through the juvenile justice system and on to a positive, productive future.
The mission of Philadelphia Youth in Service (PYS) is to provide youth in transition the opportunity to complete their community service requirement and pay back their restitution so they can move quickly through the juvenile justice system and on to a positive, productive future.
Our Values
Partnership: PYS seeks Community Service Partners who are willing to provide meaningful opportunities for adjudicated youth to complete their community service requirements.
Youth Development: Through community service opportunities, youth are able to develop valuable skill sets and positive networks that can be used to further their development as young adults.
Community Restoration: Through service opportunities, youth are able to make positive contributions to communities they have previously harmed.
Partnership: PYS seeks Community Service Partners who are willing to provide meaningful opportunities for adjudicated youth to complete their community service requirements.
Youth Development: Through community service opportunities, youth are able to develop valuable skill sets and positive networks that can be used to further their development as young adults.
Community Restoration: Through service opportunities, youth are able to make positive contributions to communities they have previously harmed.
Our Model
PYS follows the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model (BARJ) which focuses on all parties taking part in repairing harm and rebuilding relationships in the community. As such, this initiative is designed to provide adjudicated youth a chance to fulfill their required community service hours by completing meaningful projects in communities where they currently live and spend time, and where they may have previously caused damage. These young people will directly enhance local communities in need of support while they build for themselves a set of skills and networks that will benefit them as they move forward.
The Division of Juvenile Justice Services is partnering with the Philadelphia Youth Advocate Program (PYAP) to facilitate services for this initiative. Adjudicated youth served by PYAP are between the ages of 12 and 18 and are assigned professional Advocates who work closely with them to provide mentorship, supervision, and the direction required to help young people move quickly through the juvenile justice system. PYAP Advocates connect young people to community service opportunities that are developed by Community Service Partners (CSPs) who've been identified and oriented by the JJS Volunteer Coordinator. PYAP Advocates prepare young people to engage in service, serve alongside them, and reflect with them afterwords on their accomplishments and skills gained. The JJS Volunteer Coordinator monitors overall program development and implementation, and coordinates ongoing evaluation to inform expansion in the coming years.
PYS follows the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model (BARJ) which focuses on all parties taking part in repairing harm and rebuilding relationships in the community. As such, this initiative is designed to provide adjudicated youth a chance to fulfill their required community service hours by completing meaningful projects in communities where they currently live and spend time, and where they may have previously caused damage. These young people will directly enhance local communities in need of support while they build for themselves a set of skills and networks that will benefit them as they move forward.
The Division of Juvenile Justice Services is partnering with the Philadelphia Youth Advocate Program (PYAP) to facilitate services for this initiative. Adjudicated youth served by PYAP are between the ages of 12 and 18 and are assigned professional Advocates who work closely with them to provide mentorship, supervision, and the direction required to help young people move quickly through the juvenile justice system. PYAP Advocates connect young people to community service opportunities that are developed by Community Service Partners (CSPs) who've been identified and oriented by the JJS Volunteer Coordinator. PYAP Advocates prepare young people to engage in service, serve alongside them, and reflect with them afterwords on their accomplishments and skills gained. The JJS Volunteer Coordinator monitors overall program development and implementation, and coordinates ongoing evaluation to inform expansion in the coming years.
Our Numbers
Since September of 2013, approximately 228 PYS youth have participated in 85 independent service projects with 18 different community partners and completed 2,118.5 hours of community service, taking into account the length and number of youth present at each event. Additionally, PYS youth participate in ongoing, year-round service projects with our Community Service Partners. At these sites, approximately 650 youth have completed nearly 7,047 hours of community service.
In total, PYS has facilitated about 9,535.5 hours of service for 878 youth.
Since September of 2013, approximately 228 PYS youth have participated in 85 independent service projects with 18 different community partners and completed 2,118.5 hours of community service, taking into account the length and number of youth present at each event. Additionally, PYS youth participate in ongoing, year-round service projects with our Community Service Partners. At these sites, approximately 650 youth have completed nearly 7,047 hours of community service.
In total, PYS has facilitated about 9,535.5 hours of service for 878 youth.
This initiative is a strategic collaboration between the Philadelphia Department of Human Services-Division of Juvenile Justice Services (DHS-DJJS), the Courts & the Juvenile Probation Office (JPO), the Mayor's Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service, and the Philadelphia Youth Advocate Program (PYAP).
During its initial years, the PYS program has been coordinated by AmeriCorps VISTA members. The VISTA members are part of the SERVE Philadelphia cohort based out of the Mayor's Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service. For more information regarding SERVE Philadelphia please visit www.SERVEPhiladelphia.com.
On right: PYS youth discuss nature conservation at Bartram's Garden.
During its initial years, the PYS program has been coordinated by AmeriCorps VISTA members. The VISTA members are part of the SERVE Philadelphia cohort based out of the Mayor's Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service. For more information regarding SERVE Philadelphia please visit www.SERVEPhiladelphia.com.
On right: PYS youth discuss nature conservation at Bartram's Garden.