| |
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?
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.
Back to top
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.
Back to top
The In-Custody program
operates through Juvenile Hall in the girls unit. We provide
weekly groups, conduct assessments for domestic violence and
sexual exploitation, and work on relationship issues, family
problems, and anger management.
We provide some individual case management for girls in-custody,
and see some only through groups. We also do assessments to
identify whether clients are eligible for Victims’ Compensation
funds.
We also offer groups to girls in the jail system addressing
run-away prevention, trauma, and sexual exploitation.
Back to top
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.
Back to top
Learn
more about the Secure House for Girls.
For more information on CSE issues or survivor-sensitive healing
modalities, visit the Information Center using the links above.
For more information about FOPP, EIPP, the STAR Center, Mental
Health, or other SAGE programs and services, use the links above,
or contact us at SAGE. |
