• Services
• EIPP
• Peer Education
  and Support
• Replication
  Programs
• STAR Center
• STOP
• SSTC
• Wellness
  Programs
• Mental Health
  Services
• Youth Programs
• Secure House for Girls
• Transgender
  Program
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Arts Collective and Creative Writing
• Volunteer Legal Advocacy Program
• Men’s Program
• FOPP

The SAGE Project Youth Program has three main branches: the Life Skills program, the In-Custody program, and the Family Preservation program.

Each area of the Youth Programs is staffed by individuals who have a particular interest and commitment to working with girls, and to helping to remedy the injuries done to youth by perpetrators, family violence, or criminal justice systems. We reach out to girls in Juvenile Hall and other areas of the criminal justice system, and accept referrals from group homes and social services, parents, schools, and probation officers. The average age of our Youth Program clients is 13 years.

What is the Life Skills Program?
What is SAGE's Philosophy for the Youth Programs?
What is the In-Custody Program?
What is the Family Preservation Program?
What is the Secure House for Girls?

The Philosophy Behind our SAGE Youth Programs

We are very committed to creating a respectful, supportive, and healing environment for youth. We recognize that the traditional criminal justice approach to sexually exploited youth has focused on discipline and punishment.

Based on our understanding of sexual exploitation as a crime against girls, rather than an issue of juvenile delinquency, we provide services that encourage trauma recovery, self-expression, skills-building, and education. SAGE programs have structure, but we also try to create a lot of room for play, and offer clients personal attention and positive reinforcement. We focus on building resources, and supporting youth in recognizing their strengths, skills and capabilities.

Due to the young age of SAGE's Youth Program clients, staff provide a certain amount of “surrogate parenting”, which may include being an advocate in school, assisting with practical matters, and providing non-judgmental and loving support. We also provide a model and a safe environment by which Youth Program clients can learn to express fear, anger, and frustration in healthy ways.

We offer SAGE Youth Program clients positive messages which help to counter the negative beliefs associated with sexual exploitation, neglect, or abuse. As the “Pimp Culture” has become more mainstream and popular in the U.S., we find that more and more younger girls are being recruited into sexual exploitation.

We contradict the messages that they receive in this "Pimp Culture" that pimps will protect them, that the sex industries are glamorous, and that abuse is okay if the perpetrator says “I love you.” Our sexual exploitation curriculum, “Sex Ex 101” and our “Don’t Give It Away” groups, focus on establishing safe and self-loving sexual boundaries, and learning new skills for sexual self-protection.

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What is the SAGE Youth "Life Skills" Program?

The Life Skills program is an out of custody program for girls who have experienced sexual exploitation. Typically youth participate in the Life Skills program for 6-14 months.

SAGE Youth Program staff provide individual case management weekly, initially through an Intake Case Manager, and then through referrals specific to substance abuse, sexual exploitation, or family preservation. We also offer ongoing groups addressing substance abuse, relationships, sexual exploitation, neighborhood safety, work and vocational preparation, anger management, recognizing perpetrators and communication.

The Life Skills program has outings and overnight trips several times a year including water slides, camping, roller skating, movies, theater, and snow activities. Youth fundraise through bake sales and other community activities to help support outings.

The Life Skills program located onsite at Juvenile Hall, and includes access to GED and computer training programs. Out-of-custody groups are also made available to youth outside of our immediate program through Walden House, a San Francisco based recovery program.

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What is the SAGE Youth Program "Family Preservation" Program?

The Family Preservation Program focuses on improving family dynamics and supporting families in healing, in order to create safe shelter and options for youth. In circumstances where girls are living at home, or where reunification is a relatively good option, we provide counseling support services to families as a whole.

We work on building new coping mechanisms, improving communication skills, addressing problems in family dynamics, and identifying goals to help create a healthier environment. We are also glad to assist family members in finding referrals for social services and medical needs.

The well-being and safety of girls is our ultimate concern. We coordinate with social services to determine when family preservation is appropriate, and will not result in violence or abuse. We do recognize that many families have the capacity to become healthier and safer environments, particular with counseling and support.