VOICES Sonoma Program Overview

To serve transition-aged youth in Sonoma County emancipating from systems of care, VOICES provides internal programs and co-located services with a team of partner agencies. VOICES has received a wealth of interest from agencies wishing to collaborate and co-locate within the program, and began with ten initial partners. Additionally, since opening in April 2008, VOICES has developed four main internal programs to meet the needs of our youth.

Internal Programs

Jolt (Job Opportunities Leadership Team)

Jolt is a pilot VOICES program built through a partnership with Social Advocates for Youth, True to Life Children’s Services and the Sonoma County Independent Living Program to address the critical need for employment of youth members who are most at risk of homelessness.

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

SNAP is VOICES’ youth-friendly take on assisting young people through the process of obtaining food stamp benefits. Through information, outreach, development of new youth-friendly materials and step-by-step assistance through the entire application process and beyond, VOICES and SNAP are increasing youth’s access to much needed food and nutrition.

YESS (Youth Empowerment Strategies for success)

YESS is VOICES’ mentoring program providing peer support, in-person connection and outreach to youth attending the Independent Living Program classes at Santa Rosa Junior College. Peer mentors assist youth’s development in education, employment, housing, financial and wellness skills, with the goal of bridging youth into the wide assortment of other VOICES’ services.

Co-Located Services

Housing Services:

True to Life Children’s Services (TLC) partners with Sonoma County to provide housing services through THP+ contracts.

Employment and Education Services:

Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) operates a youth employment center and provides transitional and emergency housing.

Sonoma County Adult & Youth Development promotes youth employment for VOICES youth members in the Sonoma area.

West County Community Services provides job coaching for VOICES youth members.

Youth Build helps youth gain skills and education in order to access and develop careers.

Health and Wellness Services:

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides support groups and advocacy for young people experiencing mental illness.

Petaluma People provides targeted case management for VOICES youth members.

Independent Living Program – ILP:

The Independent Living Program assists young people who are leaving foster care to live independently. ILP coordinators with Sonoma County provide training and coaching to help youth members develop the skills needed for independence.

Other Partners and Services:

New Ways to Work engages youth in policy and advocacy with government officials. The Junior League has been invaluable in supporting VOICES Sonoma. They provide over 30 volunteers per month to support all aspects of programming.