Mission Statement
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CSC Youth Program's mission is to understand needs in today's youth (UNITY) and provide youth development programs that help at risk youths gain a sense of competence, belonging, self-respect and power leading to a productive lifestyle free of gang activity and violence, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Importance of Youth Development
and How You Can Help
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Did You Know?

• Youth development has a positive impact on our community.

• Young people are the best assets today but they need skills and training to be effective citizens.

• To succeed as adults, all youth must acquire positive attitudes, appropriate behaviors and skills in five areas: H ealth; personal/social; knowledge, reasoning and creativity; vocation; citizenship.

• Adult mentorship and support are critical in youth development

• Your involvement can help young people learn and grow.

What is Youth Development?

Youth development is the ongoing process in which all young people are engaged and invested. Through youth development, young people attempt to meet their basic personal and social needs and build competencies necessary for successful adolescent and adult life.

It is an approach, framework, a way to think about young people that focuses on their capacities, strengths and developmental needs and on their weaknesses and problems.

Six Basic Needs for Youth Survival and Healthy Development

1. Sense of safety and structure
2. Belonging and membership
3. Self-worth and an ability to contribute
4. Independence and control over one's life
5. Closeness and several good relationships
6. Competency and mastery

Los Angeles County Children
and Youth – Key Findings
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• Asian Pacific Islanders account for 10% of children and youth in Los Angeles County

• 850,000 children or 33% of the age 0-17 population lived in households below the poverty level in 1998 (the poverty level was $16,450 for a family of four). Asian Pacific children have the county's fourth highest poverty rate at 21%.

• 36% of students in the county's public schools are Limited English Proficient (LEP). Of the 561,000 LEP students, 491,000 or 87% are Spanish speakers. The second largest language group is Armenian, with 12,700 students, followed by Korean (8,700), Cantonese (8,100), Vietnamese (6,200), Cambodian (6,200), Tagalog (5,000) and Mandarin (5,500).

Source: 1998-99 State of the County Report, United Way of Greater Los Angeles