Health Initiatives for Youth
Organization Details
| Name | Health Initiatives for Youth |
| URL | http://www.hi4youth.org/ |
| Phone number | (415) 274 1970 ext 0021 |
Organization Description
| Service(s) description | We provide after-school health and leadership programming at various high schools in the district. This includes peer health education programs, queer empowerment clubs and GSA support, and health and diversity groups! They provide young people an opportunity to discuss and workshop difficult topics on which they can rarely get advice from teachers or family members - topics like relationships, sexuality and identity, substance use and abuse, mental health, and managing risk. HIFY runs three different programs in OUSD schools. One is our federally funded after school health and relationships program, SKILL. The second is Leadership in Diversity, our City of Oakland-funded after school program designed to support queer and questioning youth and their allies. The third is a paid peer health education group designed to encourage youth onto a behavioral health career track while fighting stigma around common issues like mental and sexual health. |
| Program impact | By building relationships with peers and trusted yet relatable adult role models, youth reinforce the support networks that foster resilience despite their often tough circumstances. By creating a safe space to explore and take on responsibilities, we can develop the youth's leadership skills, provide factual information, and serve as a resource in times of crisis. Ultimately this improves the students' performance in school and behavior at home, and helps them avoid negative outcomes like substance abuse, mental health struggles, violence, and STIs and unwanted pregnancies. |
Community programs are organized into categories known as Community School Elements. All community programs associated with Health Initiatives for Youth are listed below and each program may be provided at 1 or more schools. You can use the 'Show Details' buttons to learn more about each program.
Health & Wellness (2 programs)
Programs that help students to be in school and ready to learn, and to reach our goal of engaging the entire community in improving individual and community health.
Youth leadership (1 program)
Programs to help cultivate civically engaged communities in which students have power to inform, influence, and shape policy that reflects their perspective.