How to Create a Youth Program for Minorities

Youth programs provide a variety of services designed to strengthen juveniles in the community. Programs targeted for minorities work with a variety of cultures. The challenges of creating a youth program for minorities include dealing with tax issues, navigating through government requirements and funding. The founder will need persistence and determination to accomplish his goal of developing a cost-effective program that serves minority youth. Most youth programs operate as non-profit organizations.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine what kind of program you will run. Look at what young people will benefit from your services and address the specific need. These can include after-school programs, tutoring and test preparation, sports and recreation programs, arts and crafts, vocational training and substance-abuse prevention. Research existing programs. Look for a need that the community has not yet met.

• 2

  Write a mission statement. The mission statement summarizes your purpose, outlines your program's core values, and provides focus for the agency.

• 3

  Organize your youth program. Set up an employee structure and a board of directors. Develop a policy and procedure manual, keeping the vision and mission statement in mind. Submit your non-profit paperwork, state forms and licensing information. Hire a director and assistant director.

• 4

  Incorporate best practices into your program. Best practices are methods of running the program that have proved to be more effective to achieve the desired results than other program methods. Look at a program guide such as that provided by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Program guides offer an online list of criteria, risk factors and support factors you can mark; then they match you with model programs similar to the one you wish to start.

• 5

  Develop a plan to address funding. While all non-profits need a variety of funding sources including grants, matching contributions and corporate and individual funding. Grants usually cover some costs but not others, such as hiring but not equipment, or vice versa, depending on the specific parameters of the grant. Individuals and corporations usually offer the most flexible funding.

• 6

  Evaluate the program so you know if it is working. Funders will want concrete data to assess the results of the program. You may be able to use online assessment tools or modify these to meet the needs of your program. Otherwise, you may need to completely develop new evaluation tools specific to your program.