The City of Sacramento’s Youth Division — part of the Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment — has created new virtual resources and activities for Sacramento’s young people to provide support during the COVID-19 outbreak and stay-at-home orders.
“We understand this is a very trying time for youth and families,” said Interim Youth Division Manager Monica Blanco. “The Youth Division is working hard to ensure our young people still have options to engage, learn and socialize.”
The Youth Division launched a plan April 27 on Instagram, Facebook and the City’s website to help keep youth socially engaged. The weekly themes include:
- “Make It Monday” — Staff will share arts and crafts ideas and activities for elementary and middle school-aged children.
- “Teen Talk Tuesday” — Civic Engagement staff, Summer @ City Hall participants and Sacramento Youth Commissioners will engage youth through Zoom discussions, and fun opportunities using memes, challenges and trivia.
- “Youth Workforce Development Wednesday” — Youth Workforce staff will cover work readiness topics and share job postings and program information.
- “Technology Thursday” — Staff will offer STEM activities for elementary and middle school-aged children.
- “Fun Fitness Friday” — Youth Sports staff will provide fun physical activities, fitness challenges and fitness and wellness resources.
Specific activities and programs are also being offered within existing Youth Division programs. For example, START and After School Education and Safety (ASES) are offering virtual learning programs, individualized mentoring, tutoring and social emotional well-being support. Many of the Youth Aides in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) continue in their work placements by telecommuting.
Staff currently are modifying and redesigning Prime Time Teen curriculum to move the summer session to a virtual program. Curriculum includes work-readiness training, skill development, sell care and wellness resources. Registration for the summer session will open mid-May with the program beginning in mid-June.
The Youth Division’s Civic Engagement Union continues to engage youth during this challenging time, Blanco explained. Youth that are part of the Summer @ City Hall (S@CH) Returning Youth membership and the Sacramento Youth Commission (SYC) continues to participate in bi-weekly capacity building workshops through Zoom.
“We look forward to the day our Youth Division programs will be able to meet in person again,” said Kris Wimberly, YPCE Youth Division Interim Superintendent. “Until then, we are doing everything we can to ensure we continue to engage and offer resources to the teens and young adults who utilize our programs.”
The Youth Division is looking for input from Sacramento’s youth, 12-24 years old, on the types of virtual programming and services they would like to participate in.
Click here to take the survey.