The San Francisco District Attorney’s Youth and Young Adult Services Unit is committed to improving the quality and responsiveness of the justice system for the benefit of youth, young adults, and their families through four pillars of education, employment, engagement, and empowerment. We connect youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24 to opportunities that positively redirect them to resources and supportive services with the goal of preventing future contact with the criminal justice system.
For more information or questions about the Youth and Young Adult Services Unit, please email us at sfda.yyas@sfgov.org
Access to Hope Youth Fellowships, are designed to give youth and young adults impacted by the criminal justice system opportunities to see beyond their current circumstances. Fellowship participants will be offered educational seminars, professional development, and civic engagement opportunities. Participants will engage with prosecutors, professional staff, criminal justice partner agencies, and City leaders.
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IMPORTANT DATES |
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| Applications open | February 10th, 2025 |
| Application Deadline | April 11th, 2025 by 5:00pm |
| Applicant interviews | April 14th – April 26th, 2025 |
| Notification of Offer letters | April 30th, 2025 |
| Candidate Acceptance deadline | May 5th, 2025 |
| SFDA Orientation Paperwork due | June 1st, 2025 |
| First week of fellowship | June 23rd, 2025 |
Young Adults ages 18-24 may participate in a 6 week long fellowship intensive, from June through August. Please note that Applications for the Summer Session are currently closed
How To apply: Submit a Young Adult Fellowship Application
Resume – Applicants are still encouraged to apply if they do not have one
Deadline To Apply for Young Adult, Fall 2025 Cohort: July 18, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.
IMPORTANT DATES | |
| Applications open | June 6, 2025 |
| Application Deadline | July 18, 2025 (due by 5:00 PM PST) |
| Applicant interviews | August 4, 2025 – August 22, 2025 |
| Notification of Offer letters | September 2, 2025 |
| Candidate Acceptance deadline | September 5, 2025 (due by 5:00 PM PST) |
| SFDA Orientation Paperwork due | September 10, 2025 |
| First week of fellowship | September 24, 2025 |
The Shadow Day program offers high school students and young adults a chance to learn about the San Francisco District Attorney’s role in promoting public safety and preventing crime. Participants will have the opportunity to shadow Assistant District Attorneys or other SFDA professional staff, such as paralegals, investigators, victim services advocates, and more.
By attending a Shadow Day, students will:
If you’re interested, please submit a Shadow Day Interest Form: Shadow Interest Form.
The Youth and Young Adult Services Unit is currently accepting applications for the upcoming cohort of Sojourners. The Sojourn to the Past Initiative is a powerful academic experience where youth participants retrace the steps of the Civil Rights Movement by visiting civil right landmarks in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. This unique opportunity educates and empowers youth participants to be change agents in their communities by raising awareness about the many important qualities of the Civil Rights Movement such as acceptance, non-violence, courage, compassion, forgiveness, and civic responsibility; all of which improves life now and in the future. The youth participants gain a profound understanding of our nation’s history and leave with a heightened awareness of the prejudicial challenges that impact our society today.
We are now accepting applications for Youth ages 14-18 (18 if you are still in high school) and Peer Mentors ages 18-24 (must be out of high school).
The trip will occur April 2nd – 9th, 2024, and you must be a San Francsico student/resident in order to be considered eligible. You must also commit to weekly preparation meetings starting in February from 4:00-6:00pm, and once a month for group outing.
Please note that applications for the 2025 cohort are closed at this time. Thank you for your interest, please check back again next year.
How to apply: No longer available at this time
Eligibility Requirements:
• Must be a student or resident, student in the City and County of San Francisco.
• All applicants acknowledge that they will undergo a background check that requires parental consent if under the age of 18.
• Availability to commit to pre- and post- trip meetings, including the Sojourn to the Past trip April 2nd-9th, 2025. We will work with school districts to excuse absences.
• Agree to abide by all Sojourn to the Past rules and procedures, including our NO CELL PHONE policy during the Sojourn to the Past Trip. Students are NOT permitted to bring their cell phones on the Sojourn to the Past trip. The staff will make their cell phones available should there be a need to make an urgent call.
Please see application details below, or contact sfda.yyas@sfgov.org if you have any questions.