Freedom 4 Youth’s (F4Y) education programs are focused on providing pathways to college, with services primarily customized to meet individual needs. Staff and mentors provide regular academic tutoring and counseling services, assist with reviewing and completing forms including but not limited to high school graduation A-G requirements, college applications, FAFSA and other scholarships and financial aid, enrollment in EOP(S) programs through Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and can connect youth with applicable people and resources through F4Y’s extensive and energized community network. We utilize social emotional learning including self-realization, self-management, social awareness, healthy relationship skills, emotional & physical safety, mental health education grounded in trauma informed care and conscious decision making. Our curriculum also includes: poetry, college level reading, book discussions, and much more. We also offer special events, field trips, college tours, and guest speakers.
FREEDOM 4 YOUTH ADVOCATES
Founded in 2012, Freedom 4 Youth (F4Y) Advocates is a University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) campus organization made up of trained and supervised UCSB undergraduate and graduate students. F4Y Advocates meet weekly with youth both inside Los Prietos Boys Camp and in the community to provide positive peer associations, tutoring, career and educational counseling. We train and supervise UCSB students as paraprofessionals working with youth in the justice system, with an emphasis on trauma-informed and trauma-responsive care.
F4Y Advocates organize special events and provide direct service programming inside Los Prietos Boys Camp and Santa Maria Juvenile Hall, as well as out in the community. F4Y Advocates alumni have gone on to receive their masters in social work, complete teacher education programs, attend law school, or join the workforce as counselors, case managers, and law enforcement professionals. F4Y Advocates have a combined total of 30,250 volunteer hours and counting. There are currently 13 active mentors and a total of 146 alumni mentors. Mentors include former youth who were incarcerated and completed Freedom 4 Youth Blueprints 4 Freedom programming.
