Center for Young Womens Development

“In addition to reviewing the audit, the audit committee (selected board members) reviews the 990 forms. The executive director also reviews the 990 forms. A draft copy of the 990 is presented by email to all board members. If needed, a conference call may be scheduled to address questions or concerns.”

“Upon or before hire, election, or appointment each employee and board member must provide a full written disclosure of all direct or indirect financial interest that could potentially result in a conflict of interest. Examples include employer, business, and other nonprofit affiliations, and those of family members or a significant other. This written disclosure is kept on file and is updated annually and as needed. Employees and board members must disclose any interests in a proposed transaction or decision that may create a conflict of interest. After disclosure, the employee or board member will not be permitted to participate in the transaction or decision.”

“The board of directors has the authority over starting salary levels and salary increases for the executive director. The board of directors also determines the executive director's salary based on wages that are comparable to those paid to employees with similar qualifications and responsibilities in local non-profit organizations.”

“Cywd pays salaries and wages that are comparable to those paid to employees with similar qualifications and job responsibilities in local non-profit organizations doing similar work. Salary comparability studies are periodically reviewed and salaries are adjusted accordingly. Compensation is reviewed as part of annual performance and merit. The executive director has final approval over all starting salary levels, salary increase, and staff promotions, except for her own.”

“Cywd's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are made available to the public. To review the contents of these documents, requests should be made to the deputy director. The deputy director will respond to request within 10 business days. After reviewing request, the deputy director will schedule an appropriate time for you to review the documents. Documents may also be mailed or viewed online at www.guidestar.org.”

“We hosted the 25th cohort of our sisters rising employment internship program where system involved and formerly incarcerated young women to receive over 1200 hours of organizing, outreach, employment and professional development training. We provided intensive out of custody support, life skills training, and leadership development coupled with economic opportunities to approximately 120 young women between the ages of 14-24. 40 young women participated in sisters circles; re-entry support for young moms and young women being released from detention and group homes. (see schedule o) through these supportive and advocacy programs, participants gained hard and soft employment skills, public speaking, and life and leadership training as well as economic opportunities. They participated in the development and implementation of community building and advocacy projects including hosting a town hall meeting with over 100 youth in attendance and planned a statewide convening for young women involved in the juvenile and criminal justice system which had over 200 attendees. 19 young women completed young mothers united, a 12-week curriculum for pregnant and parenting moms developing parenting/life skills, developed community-based advocacy projects, including hosting an event for other young moms in the community and focus groups to uncover the needs of low- income, system involved young moms to develop advocacy strategies. We launched a new pilot program during the fiscal year ending in 2017 called the forward fellows program in partnership with freedom forward, a sf based non-profit. Forward fellows is a 1-year leadership development program for young women that have been directly impacted by csec (commercially sexually exploited children) to develop their leadership skills. The forward fellows program is first of its kind in the country and is being developed as a replicable model to ensure that young women most impacted have a voice and demonstrated leadership at decision making tables. In san francisco, forward fellows are now an advisory committee to support the work of the san francisco's mayor's task force against human trafficking. 6 fellows joined the pilot programming and began receiving over 80 hours of training and support to launch the advisory committee and develop community-based projects. One of the things young women participating in programs at the center often say is the most powerful is the sisterhood and community they build with other young women and for the pregnant and parenting moms, they often tell us how they don't have any other spaces where they are not looked down upon or feel judged for being moms. The young women's freedom center is often one of the few spaces where young women have been recognized as powerful and as agents over their own lives. To better support young women in reaching their full potentials as leaders in their own lives and in the community, we implemented programs to better meet the needs of young women and girls across all of our programs including opening a charter school on-site at the center in partnership with five keys charter school. Five keys provides access to education including high school diploma and ged as well as support in preparing for and navigating the community college system. The school site operates 2 days per week, has onsite childcare support and is the only gender specific school for system involved young women in san francisco. We also began a life coaching program offering life coaching and support in leadership development plans to any young women working with the center in some way. We continue to collaborate with other organizations in san francisco and across the region to provide skills training, resources, and support to the women we work with and strengthen our movement building work as a women's organization working for social justice and systems transformation. During the fiscal year, young women from the center enrolled in city college of san franci”

“Through this comprehensive three- year project, we are conducting in depth interviews with young women focusing on areas of housing, education, involvement with the child welfare systems, juvenile justice system, and the criminal justice system. We are also looking at the impacts of violence, poverty, public housing and benefits, and looking to the interviewees for suggested solutions. While we kicked off the san francisco project during the fiscal year, this project is part of a 3-year strategy focused on california.”