Simply put, it’s not too late for our youth. Research shows that our frontal lobes, the area of the brain where reasoning skills that temper emotions are generated, doesn’t fully develop until age 25. The foundation of our work is based on the idea that our youth can change their behavior and each of our programs utilize best practices and research in youth development to help spark these changes.

1. Theory of Change
Fresh Lifelines for Youth (“FLY”)

2. Theoretical Foundation
Simply put, research proves that it’s not too late for our youth.
FLY’s theoretical foundation for all our programs include:
1. Brain Research
2. Asset Development
3. Cognitive Based Approaches
4. Motivational Interviewing
5. Strengths Based Focus

3. Theoretical Foundation:
Brain Research
Frontal Lobes: Reasoning
It is not too late for our youth. that tempers emotions is not
fully formed until age 25.
• Brain research: Our frontal lobes do not fully develop until our twenties,
and this is the area of the brain that allows us to recognize future
consequences resulting from current action and enables us to temper our
emotions with reasoning.
Learn more at:
www.americanbar.org/content/.../crimjust_juvjus_Adolescence.pdf

4. Theoretical Foundation:
Asset Development
• Asset Development: We can help young people build their
developmental assets. The more they have the less likely they are to
engage in delinquent behavior.
• Learn more at: http://www.projectcornerstone.org/
.

5. Theoretical Foundation:
Cognitive Based Approaches
• Cognitive Based Approaches: Our brain can learn new coping strategies
when we better understand the links between our thoughts, emotions, and
reactions, and build the skills to identify and reframe dysfunctional
thinking.
FLY programs utilize role-plays, experiential learning, reflection, and de-
briefing to help our youth learn new coping strategies.
Notably, therapeutic approaches of Cognitive Based and Motivational
Enhancement are not limited to use by trained/licensed therapists, nor are
they limited to 1:1 “therapy session.” Rather, youth practitioners like those
at FLY can be encouraged and trained to adopt and apply these
principals in their daily work.

6. Theoretical Foundation:
Motivational Interviewing
• Motivational Enhancement Approaches: While change for any of us is
hard, we can help create the conditions to increase the likelihood of
change in ourselves and others and help facilitate the change cycle.
Notably, therapeutic approaches of Cognitive Based and Motivational
Enhancement are not limited to use by trained/licensed therapists, nor are
they limited to 1:1 “therapy session.” Rather, youth practitioners like those
at FLY can be encouraged and trained to adopt and apply these
principals in their daily work.

7. Motivational Approaches: Facilitating Change
ACTION Mentoring Programs
Mentoring Programs Leadership Programs
Leadership Programs
MAINTENANCE
PREPARATION
Mentoring Programs
Leadership Programs
Mentoring Programs
Leadership Programs
TRANSFORMATIONAL
CHANGE
CONTEMPLATION
Law Programs
FLY’s programs are strategically used to help facilitate youth
moving through the stages of change.

8. Theoretical Foundation:
Strength Based
FLY believes that our youth have many strengths to offer and we
help them discover and unleash their positive potential. We seek
their input and provide meaningful leadership opportunities.
For example:
•Incarcerated youth helped design FLY
•Each year FLY holds youth focus groups to evaluate our services
and give input on strategic direction
•Youth are involved in the screening/interviewing/hiring of all FLY
staff and volunteers
•FLY helps empower our youth to provide their insight and
suggestions on juvenile justice reform to our system partners.

9. FLY’s Theory of Change
Need Theoretical Programmatic Intermediate Long Term
Foundation Approach* Outcomes ** Outcomes ***
justice system or at-risk)
80% report they have an
(ages 15-18 in juvenile
Law Classes
Assets: Youth increased desire to change
need at least 31 of Youth transform from
YOUTH
the 41 Mentoring 80% report an increase in “juvenile delinquents”
developmental developmental assets into positive
assets to thrive: community leaders
Juvenile Justice Leadership= 80% report change in
Build Assets
youth only have Law + Mentoring/ Case problematic behavior
14.7 assets Management + Service
All programs drive to and
Youth input into program design
Learning
measure all 3 outcomes
Crime: 237,000 Head (Intellect for the 80% of clients report staff/
An increase in number
STAFF
youth arrested in work) vol. positive role models
of people committed
CA each year; AND to and capable of
6,240 youth on Heart (Love for the 80% of clients like FLY
supporting JJ youth
probation each clients) services
Santa Clara and
San Mateo Counties
Customer service
COST: CA spends Probation fills our programs
Leadership roles in
ENGAGEMENT
$1 billion on
collaboratives
COMMUNITY
Juvenile Justice
Change Invited to tables of Juvenile Local juvenile justice
annually;50-80%
Behavior Solutions oriented Justice reform systems provide more
of incarcerated
youth are re- effective and humane
arrested; local Focus on quality and services
Asked by system to help with
juvenile hall costs accountability system change ***FLY does not hold
$283 a night per
System change from itself directly
youth, $32 million
inside out **FLY holds itself accountable for long-
spent annually.
directly accountable term outcomes
* All three programs share the following 8 activities: 1) Access to positive role models; 2) education on laws and life; 3) experiential learning;
4) opportunities to lead;5) field trips; 6) positive peer group; 7) recognition of progress; and 8) food.