Established in 1985 and serving the Greater Bridgeport region, RYASAP (Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership) works to ensure the safe and healthy development of youth, young adults, and families by actively engaging organizations, public officials, and community leaders around issues that matter most to the community.
By creating a “neutral table,” community members bring energy and focus, allowing candid conversations to emerge and the catalyst for change to begin.
RYASAP’s work tackles the tough issues teens, their families, and their communities face: Community violence prevention, gambling/substance use education, juvenile justice reform, mediation, personal safety, suicide prevention, teen relationships, urban education reform, and youth leadership.
RYASAP’s work has created statewide “best practice” models for other programs and communities’ adoption.
Mediation Services:
RYASAP’s mediation program aims to prevent court-involved youth from becoming more deeply involved and to divert youth away from the juvenile justice system. Instead, giving youth a meaningful opportunity to take responsibility for their actions and repair harm. The opportunity is not typically provided by the traditional juvenile justice or educational systems. RYASAP is the only agency in Connecticut that runs and delivers mediation services in the Juvenile Court system. The program, along with the agency’s JRB initiative, has revolutionized the way RYASAP and the greater community provides support to at risk youth.
