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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 12:20 pm
Time: 12:20 pm
Results for faith-based initiatives
5 results foundAuthor: New Zealand. Department of Corrections. Strategic Analysis and Research Title: Evaluation of the Faith Based Unit and Target Communities Programme Summary: An evaluation was undertaken recently by Strategy, Policy and Planning on the Faith-based Unit (FBU) at Rimutaka Prison and the associated “Target Communities” (TC) programme that assists prisoners with community reintegration. Questions that the evaluation sought to address were: • To what extent does the FBU (and TC) succeed in engaging and positively motivating prisoners? • How successfully does the programme operate within a custodial environment? • To what extent does the FBU (and TC) succeed in achieving its aims of prosocial change, and reduced re-offending? With respect to the first question, the evidence gathered indicates that prisoners generally engaged well with the FBU experience and the post-release support, and expressed high levels of motivation to make changes in their lives. Prisoners and released offenders who were interviewed for the evaluation disclosed a wide range of benefits they felt they had achieved from FBU participation. There was general endorsement for the community change approach which the unit sought to maintain. Within this environment, participants felt that they had the opportunity to learn and grow, and to prepare themselves for life on the outside. They spoke of being treated with decency and respect, and that as a result they had been given hope. Those involved with the Target Communities service in particular were without exception extremely grateful for the commitment displayed to them by the volunteers. At the same time, they were aware that they were still on a journey that had only really just begun. The level of community engagement achieved by Prison Fellowship New Zealand (PFNZ), in terms of the sheer numbers of community members enlisted to work alongside the offenders, is quite remarkable, and unique within the prison system. With respect to the second question, evaluation findings point to a range of differences in the perspectives of PFNZ and Prison Services which have meant a difficult relationship between the two parties. A “clash of cultures” is observed, between PFNZ staff’s unwavering belief in the value of the programme, and their earnest desire to ensure that participating offenders gain maximal value from their time in the unit, while a number of key personnel within Prison Services tend to view the programme more sceptically, and sometimes act in ways that have been interpreted (by PFNZ) as devaluing the unit’s worth. Quantitative analysis using psychometric instruments supported prisoners’ claims of making positive changes while in the unit, showing significant changes in offending-related beliefs. With respect to reconviction data, an RQ analysis revealed no significant impacts amongst the (admittedly small) FBU sample. Some reduction in the seriousness of new offending was identified, but this fell below the level of statistical significance, and thus cannot be interpreted as conclusive proof of a positive effect. The absence of measurable impacts on reconvictions is consistent with the findings from a number of previous studies internationally on similar faith based programmes. However, the relatively small sample size available for inclusion in the reconviction analysis means that the results ought not be considered conclusive. A theoretical model (programme logic) that is hypothesised to effect transformation of FBU participants was extracted from the interviews with stakeholders. The model emphasises that the primary mechanism of change for the FBU is the therapeutic community. This evaluation did not attempt to test the effectiveness of the principles of the therapeutic community model since PFNZ have only recently gained clarity about that approach. However, that could occur through a followup evaluation at a later date. A number of key learnings and recommendations are made about the future of the FBU, subject to decisions on renewal of the contract with PFNZ. These relate to the relationship between PFNZ and the Department, programme length, and the sentence planning processes that support the unit’s operation. Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Department of Corrections, 2010. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/486357/Final_version_of_FBU_evaluation_report_-_web_version.pdf Year: 2010 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/486357/Final_version_of_FBU_evaluation_report_-_web_version.pdf Shelf Number: 121195 Keywords: Correctional ProgramsFaith-Based InitiativesOffender RehabilitationRecidivism |
Author: Hartmann, Tracey A. Title: Moving Beyond the Walls: Faith and Justice Partnerships Working for High-Risk Youth Summary: This report examines the development of partnerships among faith-based institutions and juvenile justice agencies in a national demonstration intended to provide mentoring, education and employment services to young people at high risk of future criminal behavior. Given the range of services — and the needs of the young people — collaborations are critical to the communities' efforts. The report addresses the following questions: Can small faith-based organizations work together effectively? Can they develop effective partnerships with juvenile justice institutions? What are the benefits and challenges of both types of partnerships? Details: Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures, 2003. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2011 at: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/22_publication.pdf Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/22_publication.pdf Shelf Number: 122025 Keywords: CollaborationFaith-Based InitiativesJuvenile OffendersMentoringPartnerships |
Author: Bauldry, Shawn Title: Positive Support: Mentoring and Depression Among High-Risk Youth Summary: Positive Support examines the potential benefits of matching high-risk youth with faith-based mentors. Drawing on surveys and interviews with young people who participated in the National Faith-Based Initiative, we found that mentored youth were less likely to show signs of depression than the youth who were not matched with a mentor. This in turn was related to a variety of other beneficial outcomes, including handling conflict better and fewer self-reported instances of arrests. The report concludes with a consideration of the challenges of implementing a mentoring program for high-risk youth and how they might be overcome. Details: New York: P/PV, Public/Private Ventures, 2006. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 7, 2012 at http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/202_publication.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/202_publication.pdf Shelf Number: 124009 Keywords: At-risk YouthCrime ReductionFaith-Based InitiativesMentoringReentry |
Author: Bauldry, Shawn Title: The Promise and Challenge of Mentoring High-Risk Youth: Findings from the National Faith-Based Initiative Summary: This report, the third derived from research out of the National Faith-Based Initiative (NFBI), examines how faith-based organizations designed and implemented mentoring programs for high-risk youth. Focusing on four NFBI sites (in the Bronx and Brooklyn, NY; Baton Rouge, LA; and Philadelphia, PA), the report takes up three key questions: How were the best practices of community-based mentoring programs adapted to address the specific needs of faith-based mentors and high-risk youth? How did the organizations draw on the faith community to recruit volunteers, and who came forward? And finally, how successful were the mentoring relationships—how long did they last and what potential did they show? Details: New York: P/PV, Public/Private Ventures, 2004. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 7, 2012 at http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/171_publication.pdf Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/171_publication.pdf Shelf Number: 124012 Keywords: At-risk YouthFaith-Based InitiativesMentoring |
Author: Haas, Stephen M. Title: Helping Others Pursue Excellence in Public Schools: Assessing the Impact of HOPE CDC's Mentoring Program Summary: While mentoring programs are generally well received interventions, research indicates mixed results in terms of their impact. Nearly everyone is familiar with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America organization and likely has positive attitudes toward their programs which started forming as early as 1904. Success of mentoring programs is, however, often contingent upon the program design and implementation. Those programs that have had proven impacts on relationships, attitudes, school attendance and performance, and anti-social behaviors are well designed and follow strict implementation models. Little is also known about whether these impacts, when found, can last over time. Follow-ups, when available, are generally short term and not all that favorable. This report illustrates the results of an impact study of the HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Excellence) Community Development Corporation’s mentoring program. The program is a faith-based initiative designed to improve academic performance and behavior of at-risk youth by providing mentors in typically under performing schools. The mentors or Youth Development Specialists, seek to develop positive relationships with the youth by engaging in various activities mainly at the school. Academic tutoring and lessons related to moral development are also provided to encourage the youth to become better students and citizens and ultimately prevent delinquency. In a prior study (Haas and Turley, 2008), characteristics of the design and implementation of the HOPE CDC’s mentoring program were measured against those of programs that have proven successful in the past. The goal of that study was to determine if the program contained elements that would suggest the potential for the positive impacts they envisioned. While the HOPE CDC’s program was generally well received by those involved, the study found problems with its design and implementation strategy that could hinder its ability to produce positive impacts. Like other newly developed prevention and intervention programs, HOPE CDC experienced common implementation issues at the beginning of the school year. In addition, the study found that the model chosen as a basis for the HOPE CDC mentoring program was not evidence-based and that they departed from this curriculum in several important ways. For example, the mentors were found to be managing large caseloads rather than developing close personal relationships. Both program and school staff indicated that there was a heavy focus on academic performance and tutoring rather than mentoring. Other weaknesses of the program included little or no evidence of formal performance monitoring and an inadequate use of community resources, including family members. Despite these programmatic issues, school staff indicated a high level of support for the program and its expansion. For the most part, the school staff reported positive relationships with the mentors and wished there were more of them. Program staff also had a genuine interest in helping as many students as possible. Finally, the students seemed to be encouraged by the program’s use of incentives for good behavior and performance. Details: Charleston ,WV: Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Office of Research and Strategic Planning, Division of Justice and Community Services, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, 2011. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2012 at http://www.djcs.wv.gov/SAC/Documents/HopeImpactEvaluationOct2011_Final.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.djcs.wv.gov/SAC/Documents/HopeImpactEvaluationOct2011_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 125161 Keywords: At-risk YouthFaith-Based InitiativesMentoring |