Assessing Youth Programs and Gaps in Critical Youth Services

“All Jersey City youth aged 5-24 will have access to a wide range of local activities to improve quality of life and to services and support systems that provide a critical foundation for future opportunities and successes.” - Jersey City Mayor’s Office Youth Sector Vision

In order to achieve this vision and strengthen Jersey City’s youth services sector, the Capstone team worked directly with the Office of the Mayor and members of Jersey City’s Innovation Team to provide recommendations for increasing access to and improving delivery of services for the city’s youth population, particularly for priority youth populations (i.e. special needs, homeless, addicted, foster-care, immigrant and LBGT youth). 

Over the course of the semester, the Capstone team conducted a comprehensive review of the current youth service landscape to identify delivery gaps and unmet needs; held in-depth interviews with key advocacy groups representing target youth populations; developed survey tools to document the availability and range of services currently offered; and created a framework for implementing data-driven solutions to inform the city’s strategic planning process for the youth services sector moving forward. 

Recommendations captured in the Capstone team’s final presentation included a suggested design for a public facing, interactive youth services navigation tool; governance options to ensure accountability, progress, and sustainability of the youth sector over time; opportunities to increase collaboration and linkages between existing youth organizations active in Jersey City; and insights for leveraging alternative funding sources to build a more robust youth service sector.