A community coalition that works to improve the lives of economically disadvantaged youth and serves as the clearinghouse for local youth serving agencies.
Our mission: To promote positive youth development and to prevent juvenile delinquency through collaboration and capacity building.
Our history: PFY is a nonprofit 501C(3) organization that was established by former mayor, Pam Miller, in response to the 1994 shooting death of an African American youth by a white police officer. Leaders from all segments of the community were brought together to develop effective ways to meet the needs of our young people.
2012/13 Programs for Youth:
"I DO!"
Partners for Youth, in collaboration with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (including the Divisions of Parks & Recreation and Youth Services), Fayette County Public Schools, faith communities, Commission on Youth Development and Public Safety, the Lexington Youth Initiative, neighborhood associations, local nonprofit, and others have compiled a list of fall and spring programs for youth.
"I DO!" stands for "Identify opportunities...Develop Relationships ... Organize partnerships. Through this effort, we have worked to gather, create and now distribute information on meaningful fall and spring opportunities for youth. Our hope is that you will join us and "I DO!" for youth this fall and spring!
Please review this list and distribute widely to those youth and families who need it most. Please do what you can to make children, youth and families aware of programs taking place in locations near to them. Consider showcasing this list on your websites, facebook pages, listservs, calendars, etc. You'll notice that many of these programs are free and have extended hours to meet the needs of our youth.
Our programs include:
Grassroots Allocations
The Grassroots Allocations program raises and allocates local funds to grassroots programs that provide opportunities for young people. PFY allocated $63,000 to 41 local youth programs for 2012-2013. Since 1995 PFY has given over $1,000,000 to 280 different youth programs. Programs served include academic tutoring, recreation, diversity programs, skill development, and many more.
Partners for Youth/Toyota Scholarship Program
The Scholarship program started in 1998, with the help of Toyota. Youth who participate in programs supported by the Grassroots Allocations program are eligible. Scholarships can be used for any postsecondary education, and encourage recipients to continue their education. Each year ten scholarships are awarded, with nine youth receiving $1,000 and one youth receiving $1500.
This year, we awarded the following 12 students with scholarships:
2012 Partners for Youth/Toyota Scholarship Recipients:
- Laura Benrey, AJ. Newcomb Scholarship Winner ($2000) - Henry Clay High School
- Natasha Fee ($1500) - Tates Creek High School
- Brandi Lindsey ($1000) - Tates Creek High School
- Michelle Fee ($1000) - Tates Creek High School
- Kelsey Smith ($1000) - The Learning Center
- Luis Castro ($1000) - The Learning Center
- Hilda Rivera ($1000) - Lafayette High School
- Tazia Coleman ($1000) - Lafayette High School
- Tiffany Horton ($1000) - Henry Clay High School
- Shaleigha Richard ($1000) - Bryan Station High School
- Lelia Morton ($1000) - Paul L. Dunbar High School
- Sonia Guzman ($1000) - BCTC
Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC) project
PFY leads Fayette County’s DMC efforts with the support of community stakeholders, such as the Mayor’s Office, LFUCG Police Department, Fayette District Court, County Attorney, Juvenile Probation, Fayette County Public Schools, and the Cabinet For Health and Family Services. This project's aim is to systematically affect changes necessary to reduce racial disparity in juvenile detention by reducing potential for bias in the juvenile justice system, and reducing community risk factors. As a result of this project, Fayette County has witnessed changes in detention criteria documents used by Court Designated Workers and judges. The committee is also examining arrest and detention data to determine what juveniles might be better served through an increased use of Alternatives to Detention programming. It has also partnered with three local communities through PFY’s LEXfusion project to increasing opportunities for positive youth development in local communities.
For more information, contact Larry Johnson at 859-258-3108 or ljohnson@lexingtonky.gov.
Mayor’s Youth Council
The Council was formed in 1999 to provide leadership and service opportunities for young people, and to provide a vehicle for meaningful dialogue among youth and community leaders. The Mayor’s Youth Council works closely with other local youth organizations. About 40 high school students participate in this diverse organization regularly. It is open to all youth age 12 to 18 in Fayette County.
Delinquency Prevention
Partners for Youth merged with the Fayette County Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Council in February 2000. The PFY Board (as the designated Fayette County Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Council) now recommends local delinquency prevention programs to receive grants from the Department of Juvenile Justice’s (DJJ) Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Grant (CJJPG) Program. More than $1,300,000 has gone to 18 local organizations over the last five years. PFY also studies local juvenile justice issues in order to address the gaps in services for at risk and delinquent youth by collaborating with local youth service providers to implement policy change.
Through Partners for Youth the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has awarded $270,000 to four local agencies and schools through the 2004-2005 Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Grant Program (CJJPG). Grant recipients are required to reduce truancy and/or out of school suspensions in targeted elementary and middle schools by 30% in the 2004-2005 State Fiscal Year. For a more detailed description of the grant recipients and the Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Program (CJJPG) please
2006-2008 Community Needs Assessment
Partners for Youth (as the designated Fayette County Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Council) is required pursuant to Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KAR) 1:060 and 1:070 to complete a Comprehensive Plan that outlines goals and objectives for the next two state fiscal years (July 1 to June 30). Within the Plan is the Community Needs Assessment that contains data and information regarding delinquent and at risk youth, gaps and barriers to services for these youth, and how Partners for Youth through the Community Juvenile Justice Partnership Grant (CJJPG) Program and other initiatives, will address these issues.
Click here to view a PDF of the 2006-2008 Community Needs Assessment
Click here to view a PDF of the 2006-2008 Community Needs Assessment Appendices