Steps Up
CfY's newest program, Steps Up, addresses two needs. First, our Steps Up students provide support to Program Managers by assisting at Steps Ahead activities. Second, Steps Up is designed to meet the desire expressed by older students to give something back to the CfY community. These students, who have received so much from CfY programs, volunteer to offer their support to students in the Steps Ahead program.

Steps Up students learn the same coaching skills we teach mentors so that they can assist freshmen to maintain their commitments. Steps Up students meet monthly with the Program Manager to learn coaching techniques and leadership skills. Part of their responsibility is to coach students at Steps Ahead workshops and activities. Each Steps Up student is assigned a freshman student to mentor and support during the school day. Selected Steps Up students support the Steps Ahead launch course as Junior Staff.

What makes Community for Youth unique:

• We build a community of support for students and mentors
• We teach and instill core concepts focused on personal growth and accountability
• Students and mentors are involved in the selection of their match
• We place a strong emphasis on mentor training and support
• We place a staff member in each of our schools during the school day.

• 90 - 100% of students in our programs stay in school (compared to 78% of Seattle Public High School students)
  
  
• 90%+ of those students who stay in our programs graduate from high school (compared to 58.9% of Seattle Public High School students)
  
  
• 83% of our students positively changed their behavior and/or achieved their goal
  
  
• 93% of our students reported that they benefited from our program
  
  
• 86% believe they gained a sense of personal accountability
  
  
• 97% feel connected to the community