QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Purpose
Nevada Youth Empowerment Project (NYEP), a 501©3 non-profit organization, is a leader in developing residential independent living programming for older teenage youth. For over four years, NYEP has provided its innovative Community Living Program (CLP) to transitioned aged teens to develop them to self sufficiency. The CLP is referred to by many youth providers in the community as a “model program”.
NYEP’s approach to youth service delivery is innovative and falls outside the conventional traditional supports that have not made much difference in youth outcomes. NYEP does not serve hundreds or thousands of teens each year. Instead, we use a quality, comprehensive approach where we serve no more than 6 residents at a time for a 9-18 month period. Every day each resident is provided with the type of individualized support they need to move forward in their success plan. Daily support includes material resources, teaching/training, redirecting, monitoring/supportively confronting, processing feelings, ideas, thoughts and beliefs using positive self talk, facilitating group events and mediating situations/instances between peers/roommates/staff/volunteers to ensure a healthy, learning environment.
NYEP has worked with unprepared and parentless teens from all systems of care and institutions, as well as private parents. Each year the number of homeless teens rise, but housing funding sources remain non existent. NYEP is a passionate leader concerning the needs of homeless teens and the services available to them. It is NYEP’s goal to increase housing programs for teens that will deliver safe, supervised housing, daily supportive transitional housing services, and skills training to residents to ensure program success (self sufficiency/independence).
Mission
“Nevada Youth Empowerment Project provides residential and out patient programming and education to prepare willing older youth for independent self sufficient living.”
Our Ultimate Goal
NYEP’s approach to youth service delivery is innovative and falls outside the conventional, traditional supports that have not made much difference in youth outcomes. NYEP’s ultimate goal is for its CLP to have lasting, positive impacts on both the individuals it serves and the community as a whole as a direct result of young people being community contributors instead of standing in food pantry lines, accessing public welfare, or living in tent city. Our goal is to reverse this trend, one youth at a time.
The Basics
The CLP home is a 5 bedroom 2 1/2 bathroom house located in a residential area in Northwest Reno. The nearest bus line is less than 2 blocks away from the house, within walking distance. It is capable of housing up to six residents. There is a common (living) room, clothing closet, computer area, study room and office located at the facility which gives residents handy access to staff members.
Each resident is provided with a bedroom, which they may share with another resident or residents. They are provided with housing, food, case management and self sufficiency training and support through daily adult guidance.
The house has a deadbolt lock with keypad entry. New residents have a 6pm curfew, however after 30 days in the program the resident may be eligible for a later curfew. The initial curfew is intended to help NYEP resident build buy-in to the program. Having them home by 6pm allows the resident to participate in scheduled evening activities and begin to grow the sense that they belong.
The residents must use a sign-in/out log, located by the front door, whenever they leave the facility. This lets us know their whereabouts at all times as well as instilling in them a sense of accountability. The house is hard wired with fire alarms and equipped with a fire plan. An exit strategy, in case of emergency, is posted in 2 hallways in the house. A fire drill is rehearsed monthly.