2026 Grantees
YOUTH FINANCIAL TOOLS & $OLUTIONS PROGRAM (2026)
Alameda County's Public Health Department will use its VAC grant to expand the Youth Financial Tools & Solutions Program, providing financial education workshops and one-on-one coaching to youth and young parents ages 16-24. The program aims to disrupt cycles of poverty by equipping participants with practical tools for budgeting, credit management, and long-term financial planning, with a particular focus on young people experiencing housing insecurity and system-involved youth.
OPPORTUNITY ACADEMY AT REACH, PHASE 2 (2026)
The REACH Ashland Youth Center will use its VAC grant to enhance the Opportunity Academy with an innovative incentive-based system designed to motivate youth toward high school diploma completion. Building on the success of the original Academy, Phase 2 focuses on improving learning environments, increasing student engagement through targeted rewards, and addressing academic and emotional barriers that prevent "opportunity youth" ages 16-24 from achieving educational success.
UBUNTU JUSTICE INITIATIVE (2026)
The Alameda County Probation Department will use its VAC grant to launch the Ubuntu Justice Initiative, a restorative justice program that prevents youth and transition-age youth from entering or re-entering the criminal justice system. The program provides community court diversion services, connects participants with wraparound support from community-based organizations, and emphasizes effective communication, conflict resolution, and mutual support to strengthen family cohesion and reduce recidivism.
PROVIDING ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND HEALING PROGRAM (2026)
The Alameda County Public Defender's Office will use its VAC grant to create the PATH program, which connects system-impacted young adults ages 18-24 diagnosed with mental health disorders to meaningful services and support. By hiring a dedicated Community Outreach Worker, PATH provides guidance, advocacy, and hands-on support to help participants navigate mental health diversion, remain engaged with treatment, build stability, and access the resources they need to succeed.
SERVICE PROVIDERS HELPING YOUTH AND FAMILIES PROJECT (2023)
"My experience with the Clean Slate program was great! I was initially overwhelmed because I quickly realized I didn't understand the terms and language used. However, I was relieved once [staff] and her team sat with me. They were kind and patient as they walked me through every step of the process, answering my multitude of questions. As the process went on, they kept me in the loop about the status of my case which was very reassuring. All in all, a great experience for me and I've tried to refer people in similar situations. Thank you, Clean Slate!" – Youth participant
Successes:
Filed 132 successful clean slate petitions in first grant year, exceeding planned goal by 164%
Trained 14 CURYJ staff members in criminal record remedies, clean slate services, and occupational licensing issues to expand service capacity
The Alameda County Public Defender's Clean Slate Program used its VAC grant to support the SHYFT project in partnership with Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), which increases access to criminal record remedy assistance for low-income, underserved young people and families impacted by the criminal legal system. The project trains CURYJ legal staff to provide Clean Slate services and equips non-legal staff to support transition-aged youth (ages 18-24) through the process, educating them about their rights regarding clean slate relief, criminal background checks, and occupational licensing so they can better advocate for themselves.
YOUTH TRANSITIONS PARTNERSHIP 2023
“When you’re emotional, you just want to figure out what could you do to go back to being normal. And that’s wise mind. The skills that you learn during the weekly groups, they just give you another way to deal with things. And it’s helpful.” – Youth participant
Successes:
Expanded services to youth up to age 24, enabling enrollment of 15 additional young people who would otherwise have limited access to support after turning 21
Held 67 Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) group sessions in first year, providing consistent weekly skills training and one-on-one coaching
Alameda County Social Services, in partnership with First Place for Youth, used its VAC grant to expand the Youth Transitions Partnership (YTP), which provides intensive case management and therapeutic support to foster youth at high risk of housing instability. The program uses evidence-based Dialectical Behavioral Therapy practices and includes a dedicated enrollment specialist and one-on-one coaching to serve hard-to-reach youth in various living situations including group homes, foster care, and transitional housing. YTP helps youth build essential life skills, engage with support systems, and develop plans for stable, independent futures.
YOUR COMMUNITY YOUR VOICE INITIATIVE (2023)
“I look forward to this internship because I’m a member of this community myself who wants to see some type of change. I know that in order for things to progress, people need to be informed of how voting works and ways to make their vote count. I know a lot of people believe their voice isn’t heard, but by educating my peers and community on voting laws and regulations, change and reform will soon follow. “ – Youth participant
Successes:
Hired 6 paid youth interns from historically marginalized communities, with 83% residing in targeted unincorporated Eden Area communities
Reached 175+ community members through intern-designed election literacy programs, exceeding participation goal by over 300%
The Alameda County Library used its VAC grant to launch the "Your Community Your Voice: Promoting Youth Civic Engagement" initiative in partnership with Raising Leaders, CalMatters, and the League of Women Voters. The program trains paid youth interns in community facilitation, election and media literacy, and civic engagement strategies, who then design and deliver programs to educate and empower their communities, with a primary focus on the Eden Area. Interns successfully created debate watch parties, election games, and community outreach events that increased voter awareness and engagement, with participants noting they felt more motivated to vote and better understood the value of their voice in democracy.
YOUTH PARENTING FINANCIAL TOOLS & $OLUTIONS PROGRAM (2023)
"I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn more about finances to help my family. I never knew what credit was or how it worked.” — Youth Participant
Successes:
Conducted money management workshops for 45 youth clients in first year
71% of first year participants reported increased knowledge and confidence in credit & debt management as well as money management
Provided over $10,000 in financial incentives
Alameda County's Public Health Department used its VAC grant to launch the Youth Parenting Financial Tools & Solutions Program (YPFT$), which helps young parents build financial stability during their child's early years. The program offers workshops on budgeting, saving, and managing credit to around 50 youth clients each year. After completing the series, participants can access grants to start emergency savings and explore paths like job training, education, and entrepreneurship.
DISRUPTING DISPARITIES PROGRAM (2021)
“This program opens doors for youth. It goes above and beyond to help these participants find long-term careers, or develop a workforce trade. I was so impressed with the support from the Disrupting Disparities program that I hired my intern.”
Alex Martinez, Business Owner, Shorty’s Automotive and Paint, Oakland
Successes:
13 young adults completed 21st Century Skills training and secured paid work internships with local businesses
60% of participants achieved positive employment or education outcomes including full-time employment, college enrollment, and part-time work
The Alameda County Social Services Agency's Workforce Development Board used its VAC grant to create the Disrupting Disparities Program (DDP) in partnership with La Familia Counseling Services. The program provided individualized counseling, skills training, career pathway education, and paid work internships for young adults ages 16-24. DDP established partnerships with local educational institutions, community-based organizations, and businesses to support client outreach and create employment opportunities. Special attention was focused on serving residents of the unincorporated communities of Ashland and Cherryland, with participants entering post-secondary education, apprenticeship programs, or direct employment upon completion.
ADVOCATES FOR HOLISTIC EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT (AHEAD) 2021
“AHEAD is a strong advocate for students, not just for them in school, but for them as a whole. AHEAD looks at what’s going on in the student’s life outside of the school, and uses that to advocate for what’s best for the student as a whole.”
Claudia Hernandez, Community School Specialist, Tennyson High School, Hayward
Successes:
48 youth were helped with re-entry to their schools following disciplinary actions and suspensions.
13 youth and their families were connected to mental health services aimed at strengthening family relations and providing a more holistic approach to these services.
The Alameda County Public Defender’s Office used its VAC grant to create their AHEAD program to support students faced with school disciplinary actions and suspensions in an effort to interrupt the school to prison pipeline. Students from 5 school districts who participated in the AHEAD program received increased family support, remediation of school disciplinary issues, and increased academic participation upon re-entry to their schools.
REACH ASHLAND YOUTH CENTER OPPORTUNITY ACADEMY (2020)
“I’ve actually been making progress towards graduation. It’s less ‘cattle’ and more individual interaction rather than just seeing slides on a board and taking notes. It’s actual learning, and especially for someone who has ADHD like me, the personal interaction and support really help.”
REACH Ashland Youth Center Opportunity Academy Student
Successes
60 youth participated in a new program leading towards high school graduation.
Intensive “wrap-around” support services and resources were available to all youth to enhance their path towards graduation.
Alameda County Health’s REACH Ashland Youth Center used its VAC grant to create a new Opportunity Academy for youth, ages 18-24, primarily living in the urban, unincorporated areas of Alameda County. They were successful in launching despite the on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Academy offered a non-traditional path towards a high school diploma with the help of case managers, career service providers and support services. The success of the first Opportunity Academy students resulted in subsequent youth signing up for the program and a waiting list for services.
YOUNG WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (2020)
“I’m glad we could include California State University East Bay as part of the curriculum for the young women of YWEP. We were thrilled to learn that several of the participants were seriously considering enrollment and shared with hopeful enthusiasm that they could see themselves on the campus of the University.”
Nancy O'Malley, Former District Attorney of Alameda County and YWEP Founder
Successes:
Nearly 60 young women benefited from new hands-on, trust-based training.
100% participants graduated from a 12-week training program, with peer mentorship, the support of their families, and activities centered on artistic expression.
Mothers of young women noted the increased confidence, leadership and optimism of their daughters after training and participation in YWEP.
The Alameda County’s District Attorney’s Office expanded its Young Women’s Empowerment Program (YWEP) that served young women who were victims of, or were vulnerable to, commercial sexual exploitation. YWEP used its VAC grant to develop a mentorship component and support 2 cohorts of young women through special training focused on empowerment, exposure to life alternatives, use of art expression and continued growth.