What is F.A.C.E.S. ?

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OUR GOAL AND APPROACH 

F.A.C.E.S. stands for Focused Action and Change through Education and Service and is the foundation of Youth Infusion’s Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YLAB) Program. It equips students with the skills, tools, and knowledge to become leaders and changemakers in their communities.

Our vision is to bring the F.A.C.E.S. Curriculum into all high schools across the 9 counties we serve. Until that goal is achieved, we partner with community Hubs and organizations to provide meeting locations, and we offer the curriculum online, making it accessible to all participating students and mentors.

• Two Surveys: Students complete a survey at the beginning of the program and another at the end to measure their growth and program impact.
• Service-Learning Project: Each student must complete a service-learning project by April, tying their work to one or more United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Global Youth Service Month (April):
  • Students promote awareness of their service-learning topics in their communities.
  • We celebrate their efforts during this month, spotlighting their hard work and achievements during Global Youth Service Month. 
• Reflections Essay: Students write about their journey, reflecting on what they have learned through the F.A.C.E.S. Curriculum. These essays are scored, and three scholarship winners will be announced at the NEPA Youth-Led Conference in May.

Students follow the 5 Stages of Service-Learning:

• Investigation: Identifying community needs and selecting a focus area.
• Planning & Preparation: Developing a detailed plan to address their chosen issue.
• Action: Implementing their service-learning project.
• Reflection: Analyzing their work and its impact.
• Demonstration: Presenting their project and promoting awareness in the community.

Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA):
Between January and March, students will be trained in tMHFA, a program that teaches youth how to recognize and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges in their peers.
Why tMHFA Matters:

• Empowers students with the tools to support their peers.
• Reduces stigma around mental health challenges.
• Encourages early intervention and promotes mental well-being.

NAMI Ending the Silence Training:
Through a partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), students will participate in Ending the Silence, a one-day program designed to:

• Educate youth about mental health conditions.
• Promote open discussions about mental health.
• Equip students with resources and strategies to seek help for themselves or others.

• Students learn about fundraising by raising money to cover costs for the NEPA Youth-Led Conference in May.
• These activities teach valuable financial literacy skills while fostering accountability and teamwork.

• Students raise awareness on topics relevant to today’s communities, such as:
  • Mental health awareness.
  • Environmental sustainability.
  • Food insecurity.
  • Social justice issues.
• Community speakers address topics identified by students, ensuring their voices shape program content.

• Throughout the program, students earn "POINTS" for completing activities, meeting deadlines, and participating in events. These points can be redeemed for prizes at the NEPA Youth-Led Conference’s Gifting Suite.
• Incentives motivate students to stay engaged and recognize their hard work, reinforcing the importance of persistence and dedication.

The F.A.C.E.S. Curriculum empowers students with critical skills such as:

• Leadership development
• Civic engagement
• Financial literacy
• Critical thinking
• Community connection

It prepares them to succeed in their service-learning projects and carry these lessons into their future endeavors as leaders, advocates, and changemakers.

The program culminates in the NEPA Youth-Led Conference in May, where students:

• Present their service-learning projects.
• Celebrate their successes.
• Compete for scholarships through their Reflections Essays.
• Participate in dynamic sessions with community speakers.
• Redeem points for prizes in the Gifting Suite.