TESTIMONY
LuAnne Klauber, Vice President of Vocational Programs at Good Shepherd Services, on Community Programs for Vulnerable Youths
6:25:59
·
3 min
LuAnne Klauber discusses the importance of small community-based programs for vulnerable populations, emphasizing their essential role in supporting justice-involved or disconnected youths.
- Klauber oversees programs funded by the Department of Probation, similar in scale and funding to the defunct Next Steps program.
- She argues against one-size-fits-all solutions for addressing recidivism and poverty, advocating for hyper-local, high-touch initiatives.
- Highlights the focus on transformational relationships and practical outcomes like attendance and emotional regulation as keys to success.
- Asserts that without these programs, those most at risk are likely to be left behind.
- Calls for the protection of these high-touch, community-based programs with realistic outcomes that serve vulnerable youths across New York City.
LuAnne Klauber
6:25:59
Thank you, chair nurse and committee for the opportunity to testify today.
6:26:04
My name is Louanne Blauvour.
6:26:06
And I am the vice president of vocational programs at good shepherd services.
6:26:11
So I oversee several programs that are funded by the Department of Probation through the Works Plus contract.
6:26:18
And I'll highlight the fact that they resemble the recently shutdown next steps program in terms of size and funding dollars.
6:26:26
So I'm very concerned about the future direction of this agency.
6:26:30
I'm here today to underscore the value of these small community specific programs that support vulnerable populations like justice involved or out of school, out of work use.
6:26:41
So enormous programs that serve large numbers of people with one size fits all outcomes might seem like the efficient solution to challenging issues like poverty and recidivism, but they're not.
6:26:54
Because those who are most at risk disconnected from school or work, lives disrupted by the legal system, living in communities that are suffering from the long term consequences of systemic racism may not have the resources soft skills or even the baseline stability required to engage with those kind of programs at all.
6:27:14
If we wanna move the needle on poverty or on community violence, on recidivism, then small, hyperlocal, high touch programs delivered by organizations with deep expertise, deep roots in communities that we serve Those programs are the answer.
6:27:32
Programs that allow us as providers to give intensive levels of support to those most at risk of falling through the cracks.
6:27:39
Are a crucial part of the solution.
6:27:41
Our programs start by connecting with young adults because we know that for young adults, supportive, transformational relationships, Trump, every other intervention, including high-tech CGI gadgets.
6:27:55
Right?
6:27:55
So in addition to standard work readiness content, we highlight outcomes like showing up, attendance, because attendance issues are the number one reason young people lose their jobs.
6:28:07
And we highlight social emotional outcomes because dysregulation on the job isn't conducive to job persistence.
6:28:16
So our program support young adults in building stability along with building their capacity to be able to take advantage of career level training.
6:28:26
These small programs are vital link in a system of opportunities.
6:28:30
Because without them, those who need the resources the most are the most in danger of being left behind by one size fits all programming.
6:28:39
And we will never be able to move that needle if we refuse to invest in the people who are most at risk.
6:28:47
Please help us protect high touch community based programming with realistic outcomes.
6:28:55
That serve and support vulnerable youth across New York City.
6:28:59
Thank you for your time today.
← Previous Chapter
Eileen Maher, Union Leader and Social Worker, on the Failure of NYC's Department of Corrections and the Necessity of Closing Rikers Island
Next Chapter →
Nicole Farrelly, Senior Mitigation Specialist at Osborn Association on Advocacy's Role in Supporting Indigent Clients and Alternatives to Incarceration