Based on a strength-based, healthy human development approach, San José created an innovative planning framework for its youth to successfully move them from "cradle to career." This approach, supported by clinical and social development research, ultimately provides concrete steps that families, peers, communities, and support organizations can take to bolster the healthy normative progression of individuals from infancy to adulthood. When distilled into a framework of 40 Developmental Assets and coupled with local studies of San José youth, the City has developed a much clearer picture of the needs of its youth. Thus 'asset mapping,' or outlining adolescents' strengths and opportunities for development, is revolutionizing the way the City approaches youth services. San José's updated youth services model, enhanced by interdepartmental coordination and strategic resource allocation, will be forthcoming in February 2005.

The City of San José also maintains an eleven-member Youth Commission and district-based Youth Advisory Councils (YACs) to develop youth leadership capacity. The Youth Commissioners and YACs are established for the purpose of advising the City Council on youth-related issues and providing ongoing input into policies affecting the future of San José youth. Most recently, two Youth Commissioners and their respective YACs designed and hosted the first annual 'October 2004 Youth Conference: A United Voice for Youth.' Over 150 youth from across the city attended the day-long event at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. They listened to local motivational speakers, participated in workshops about youth-related issues including healthy relationships, time management, gang prevention, youth employment, domestic violence, and financial aid 101 for college, and closed with a dance hosted by a popular local DJ and a breakdancing group.

Additional youth development programs are designed to assist San José youth in maintaining productive free time by teaching them skills to be successful in the workforce. For example, San José's Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S.) provides work experience for young San Joséans ages 14-24. They participate in a variety of job preparation activities, including service work experience, resume writing, career preparation, and job placement services for unsubsidized employment. The Work Experience Program is a specialized program geared toward youth ages 14-16 with little to no previous work experience. They work 15-25 hours per week in City work sites such as libraries, community centers and parks. The youth also participate in weekly workshops regarding resume and cover letter writing, interview and workplace skills, career path exploration, and higher education options.

Additional work opportunities for San José youth are available through the Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Network (SVWIN). SVWIN functions as the local administrative arm of the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. WIA is a workforce-training program for individuals between 14-21, generally identified as low-income youth with a variety of challenges to overcome. Young people qualifying for the program must be homeless, runaways, foster children, pregnant or parenting, offenders, lack basic literacy skills, or have dropped out of school. Another program through SVWIN is the Job Corps, the nation's largest and most comprehensive residential education and job training program for at-risk youth. The San José Job Corp offers low- income young people between 16-24 the opportunity for training in 25 different vocations. Students learn the skills required for entry-level employment in occupations that will yield job opportunities and career advancement possibilities.

San José offers many programs that target youth at risk for participation in gang activity to help redirect them toward more positive alternatives. These include the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force, which helps reduce gang activity by providing safe opportunities for youth and their families to be successful and productive in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods. For example, the San José After School Program provides a safe, clean place for youth to go during after school hours. The Program collaborates with schools and community-based organizations to offer academic, cultural, recreation, literacy and nutrition programs at 255 elementary, middle and high schools. Youth are less likely to become involved in gangs and other juvenile delinquent behavior with these alternative opportunities available to them. San José After School is the primary provider of prevention services; however the San José BEST Program targets almost 70% of its funding towards intervention services for youth exhibiting high risk and gang-involved behaviors. San José BEST-contracted services include gang mediation, intervention and youth support groups, parent involvement, gang awareness training, conflict resolution, outpatient substance abuse and truancy reduction.

San José offers a host of additional gang-intervention programs to assist youth as they leave the gang lifestyle. The award-winning Clean Slate removes visible gang-related tattoos in exchange for 75 hours of community service. Since 1995, nearly 3200 gang-related tattoos have been removed with the help of over 40,000 volunteer hours contributed by doctors, nurses and medical clerks at the Santa Clara County Health and Hospital System. Striving Towards Achievement with New Direction (S.T.A.N.D) offers young men and women ages 12 to 21 activities such as camping, river rafting, community outings and recreational activities as a means to disassociate themselves from gang involvement and lifestyles. The 15-week curriculum provides support group meetings along with case management, and 70% of S.T.A.N.D. graduates transition to a gang-free lifestyle. The Right Connection is a citywide mobile street outreach unit that works with gang-involved youth to dissuade them from the gang lifestyle and provides support as they make positive changes in their lifestyles.