The Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI) released a Request for Proposal (RFP) on Monday, June 23rd. The RFP is seeking proposals from qualified agencies to provide recreational services for vulnerable/high-needs youth ages 12-17 who live or attend school in Southeast, Southwest, and/or Central areas of Seattle. Proposals are due on Monday, July 21, 2014 at 4:30 p.m.

Recreation programs are an important component of the SYVPI strategy for preventing youth from participating in or being the target of violence. Many of the services SYVPI provides, such as  case management, mentoring, and Aggression Replacement Training, are longer term means for redirecting youth toward more positive, nonviolent behavior; recreation engages youth in the Initiative by exposing them to positive adult role models and participating in fun and rewarding activities. Participation in SYVPI recreation programs helps youth build trusting relationships with SYVPI partner adults, and develop relationships with the Initiative which can lead them to access other needed services.

Minimum qualifications for an organization's proposal to be considered include at least five years of experience in providing direct services or subcontracted recreation services to youth and young adults, and at least five years of experience in planning for, providing, and managing multiple youth recreation programs.

Important dates related to the RFP and the required forms can be found on the SYVPI website at http://safeyouthseattle.org/whatwedo/parks/.

Safe Youth, Safe Community is a newsletter published by the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. Our mission is to prevent and reduce youth violence, which has disproportionately affected communities of color in Seattle, through coordinated community mobilization to identify youth at risk of perpetuating or being a victim of violence and connect them with needed support in reaching their full potential. For more information, please visit our website www.safeyouthseattle.org.