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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 8:23 pm
Time: 8:23 pm
Results for disadvantaged youth (new york)
1 results foundAuthor: Curtis, Richard Title: South Bronx Community Connections: A Pilot Project of Community Connections for Youth: A Grassroots Approach to Pro-social Adolescent Development in a Neighborhood of Chronic Disadvantage. Phase I: A Formative Evaluation Summary: South Bronx Community Connections (SBCC), a three-year pilot project, is guided by a theory-of change that relies on the development of nascent resident strengths within neighborhoods of chronic disadvantage. By extending this strength-based approach to the pro-social development of neighborhood juveniles, SBCC changes the lens from "risk-focused" interventions to indigenous resources that can be effectively bundled in favor of resiliency. The pilot, funded with a federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDPA) federal formula grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), was awarded to Community Connections for Youth (CCFY), the lead agency for implementation of its SBCC program for court-acquainted juveniles. The pilot was funded at $1.1 million, under the category "Breakthrough Research-based Strategies." Funding was awarded with the proviso that SBCC's potentially "game-changing strategies" be rigorously evaluated --- an altogether reasonable expectation given the growing political importance of the project's neighborhood context, concerns about the efficacy of out-of-home placements for court-involved juveniles, and the substantial size of the award. John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY), was awarded a subcontract by CCFY to provide a comprehensive evaluation of its SBCC pilot project. The technical report that follows is different from the original evaluation design. It does not provide an evidentiary chain that links SBCC's theory-based program model to research-based strategies, to outcomes, nor is it a small "N" case study. Given an ever- evolving implementation context, it was not possible to determine an evidentiary chain linking SBCC's theory-based program model to research-based strategies and then on to outcomes; shifting priorities and unanticipated problems produced project modifications, which precluded the use of a rigorous methodology. A small "N" case study was jeopardized by changing policies, which challenged the consistency of the pool of juvenile eligibles. Accordingly, the technical report that follows is more formative than summative. It provides meaningful, useful information that present stakeholders, policymakers, and future implementers of innovative grassroots programs can use to increase the probability of success. Simply summarized, SBCC's grassroots model has several potential strengths deserving of continued experimentation and exploration. Conceptualizing, designing, and implementing a "game-changing" program is more demanding than SBCC providers recognized, or than many funders appreciate. In fact, a three-year time-frame --- given the innovative nature of the project model --- underscores both the legitimacy of many evaluators' concerns with "evaluation-readiness" factors, and their desire to balance the information needs of stakeholders and decision-makers with methodological rigor. After a planning year, and two years of implementation devoted to tweaking the pilot project model to increase effectiveness, the latest of four program logic models identifies several intertwined strategies --- Family Engagement, Comprehensive Grassroots Involvement, and A Strength-based Focus --- each accompanied by relevant research-base activities. The activities are presumed to build neighborhood social resources via the capacity building technical assistance of CCFY and SBCC. The outcomes at the conclusion of this first phase of what hopefully will become a stronger program model, buttressed by a series of increasingly rigorous evaluations, are summarized below. Some of the outcomes are already evidence-based and are identified by an asterisk (*). Others are suggestive and encouraging, but, in the absence of sufficient data, are not yet measurable. These are identified by the letters "ID" (ID). Still others, though intriguing, remain hypothetical, needing to be meaningfully crystalized and objectified. These are noted with the letter "H" (H). All are worthy of attention and continued development if progress with the pro-socialization of court-acquainted youth is to continue. Details: New York: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2013. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 12, 2014 at: http://cc-fy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/SBCC_Technical_Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://cc-fy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/SBCC_Technical_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 134067 Keywords: At-Risk YouthDelinquency PreventionDisadvantaged Youth (New York)Neighborhoods and CrimeUrban Areas |