Office of Minority Health

Youth Empowerment Program II (YEP II)

The Youth Empowerment Program II (YEP II) seeks to address unhealthy behaviors in minority males (10-18 years) at risk for violence and provide them opportunities to learn skills and gain experiences that contribute to more positive lifestyles and enhance their capacity to make healthier life choices.
The YEP II intends to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of strategic partnerships in improving the health status of at-risk minority male youth by addressing:

• Youth violence and the resolution of conflicts in a non-violent manner
• Low educational attainment
• School suspensions and dropout rates
• Refusal skills with respect to reduction in substance abuse, counseling and behavioral health
• Cultural beliefs associated with sexual risk behavior among males
• Enhancing the community’s capacity to facilitate and sustain mentoring support services for at-risk minority male youth

The initiative will support an evidence-based program aimed at improving the expected life outcomes for at-risk minority male youth.  This program ends August 31, 2017.

Non-Federal YEP II Grantees	City	State	Funding Level
Centro de Salud de la Comunidad de San Ysidro, Inc.	San Ysidro	CA	$450,000
Friends First, Inc.	Littleton	CO	$500,000
Louisiana State University and A&M College	Baton Rouge	LA	$499,953
Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy	Boston	MA	$449,703
Self Enhancement, Inc.	Portland	OR	$499,649
Southcoast Hospitals Group	New Bedford	MA	$496,209
Sunset Park Health Council, Inc.	Brooklyn	NY	$500,000
Switchboard of Miami Inc.	Miami	FL	$500,000
Total: $3,895,514

Youth Empowerment Program (YEP)

Grant Period: 2012-2017

YEP seeks to address unhealthy behaviors in at-risk minority youth 10-18 years of age and provide them with opportunities to learn skills and gain experiences that contribute to more positive lifestyles and enhance their capacity to make healthier life choices.