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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:44 am
Time: 11:44 am
Results for youth programs
5 results foundAuthor: University of Connecticut. Center for Applied Research in Human Development Title: 2007-09 Process Evaluation Report: Governor's Urban Youth Violence Prevention Grant Summary: This report provides details of a process evaluation that was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) at the University of Connecticut for the State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management. The evaluation was conducted with 19 youth programs located in urban centers within Connecticut. One of the principal functions of a process evaluation is the use of evaluation data to inform the policies and practices employed by a youth program. The process evaluation that was conducted with Connecticut’s youth programs consisted of several components. First, attendance data were collected from all of the programs involved in the evaluation. Second, data were collected from the youth at the programs on their perceptions of “supports and opportunities” present within the programs. Third, summaries of these perceptions were shared with the directors of the programs, who then worked on an improvement plan. Finally, one year after the initial data were collected, youth were re‐surveyed to determine whether the improvement objectives had been achieved. The improvement plans were developed in consultation with the Youth Development Training and Resource Center (YDTRC) at Yale. Personnel from the YDTRC worked with staff and youth teams from each of the 19 programs to develop specific goals and objectives. They developed implementation strategies for the targeted goals, and they involved both staff and youth in the execution of these strategic attempts to improve the quality of the programming offered through each of the 19 programs. This report consists of several parts: ♦ An overview of the evaluation (Section I); ♦ Description of youth program operation and young people’s attendance data (Section II); ♦ Description of youth across the 19 programs (Section III); ♦ Results of the process evaluation, presented for each program involved in the evaluation (Section IV); ♦ A project summary (Section V). Details: Hartford, CT: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, 2009. 159p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 13, 2011 at: http://www.ct.gov/opm/lib/opm/cjppd/cjjjyd/jjydpublications/guyvp_2007-2009_final_report_9-19-09.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.ct.gov/opm/lib/opm/cjppd/cjjjyd/jjydpublications/guyvp_2007-2009_final_report_9-19-09.pdf Shelf Number: 121326 Keywords: Delinquency Prevention (Connecticut)Urban AreasYouth ProgramsYouth Violence Prevention |
Author: University of Victoria. Collaborative Community Health Research Centre Title: Research Review of Best Practices for Provision of Youth Services Summary: This report identifies elements of "best practice" in service delivery for high-risk youth. "Best practices" are based on the results of a review of current literature related to evidence of program model's effectiveness. The report also addresses barriers to service delivery affecting the high-risk youth population. In order to provide a context for examining effective approaches for high-risk youth, the report describes characteristics of specialized population groups, such as: - Runaway - Homeless - Street Involved - Suicidal - Substance Misuse - LBGTQ - Sexually Exploited - Drop-Outs The report also examines effective approaches within program/service areas, such as: - Outreach - Independent Living - Emergency Shelters - Transitional Housing - Youth and Peer Mentoring - System Development - Youth-Family Mediation - Reunification - School-Based Services - Youth Addiction Services - Aboriginal Services - Youth Development Approach The main findings of this review on effective service delivery for high-risk youth is that services need to aim to achieve appropriate cognitive, interpersonal, social and physical competencies that protect youth exposed to high risk by integrating a combination of targeted individual and system focused services which reach-out into the daily circumstances of the youth through some strategic alliances between school, family, ommunity that are implemented and sustained in a local context. Details: Vancouver, BC: Ministry of Children and Family Development, 2002. 217p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 14, 2014 at: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/youth/pdf/best_practices_provision_of_youth_services.pdf Year: 2002 Country: International URL: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/youth/pdf/best_practices_provision_of_youth_services.pdf Shelf Number: 132672 Keywords: At-Risk YouthDelinquency PreventionProblem YouthYouth Programs |
Author: David-Ferdon, Corinne Title: Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action Summary: All forms of violence, including youth violence, suicidal behavior, child maltreatment, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse, negatively affect the health and well-being of our country. Youth violence, in particular, is a significant public health problem. Each and every day, approximately 13 young people in the United States are victims of homicide and an additional 1,642 visit our hospital emergency departments because of physical assault-related injuries. Among high school students, 1 in 4 report being in at least one physical fight and 1 in 5 report being bullied in the last year. Youth who are victims of violence also have a higher risk for many other poor physical and mental health problems, including smoking, obesity, high-risk sexual behavior, asthma, depression, academic problems, and suicide. Young people are frequently the ones hurting other youth and commit a significant proportion of the violence in communities-youth aged 10-24 years represented 40% of all arrests for violent crimes in 2012. The damage resulting from youth violence extends beyond the young perpetrators and victims. Each year, youth homicides and nonfatal assault injuries result in an estimated $17.5 billion in combined medical and lost productivity costs. Violence can increase health care costs for everyone, decrease property values, and disrupt social services. Many of our young people and communities view the grim facts about youth violence as unavoidable and have accepted youth violence as a societal reality. However, the truth is that youth violence is not inevitable. Youth violence is preventable. The past investment into monitoring, understanding, and preventing youth violence is paying off and proving that youth violence can be stopped before it occurs. We cannot continue to just respond to violence after it happensthe public health burden of youth violence is too high and our potential to prevent youth violence is too great. Our understanding about youth violence and our ability to prevent it is based on decades of work by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the larger field of youth violence prevention researchers and practitioners. From systematic surveillance, rigorous research on modifiable factors that predict violence, evaluation of prevention strategies, and the strengthening of the capacity of communities to use approaches that work, we have learned a great deal about how to prevent youth violence. To help communities take advantage of the available knowledge, CDC has developed, Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action. This resource summarizes what we currently know about youth violence-the health consequences, trends, disparities, causes, costs, and prevention strategies. This resource outlines important strategies for youth violence prevention that are based on strong evidence and experience. It includes examples of specific programs and activities that have been found to be effective. These evidence-based youth violence prevention strategies focus on reducing the factors that put young people at risk for violence and bolstering the factors that strengthen their positive development and buffer against violence. Everyone has a role to play in preventing youth violence. Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action provides information and action steps that can help public health and other community leaders work with partners to prevent youth violence. This resource also describes actions that young people, families, caregivers, adults who work with youth, and other community members can take to reduce youth violence. A companion document, titled Taking Action to Prevent Youth Violence, is available to help these groups better understand the steps they can take. Details: Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 17, 2014 at: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/pdf/opportunities-for-action.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/pdf/opportunities-for-action.pdf Shelf Number: 132706 Keywords: At-Risk YouthCrime PreventionDelinquency PreventionJuvenile OffendersViolence PreventionYouth ProgramsYouth Violence |
Author: Jewell, Lisa Title: An Evaluation of the Community Cadet Corps Program in Saskatchewan Summary: The Community Cadet Corps (CCC) is a program for youth that, in Saskatchewan, is supported by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) "F" Division. It is intended to provide youth with discipline, responsibility, respect, and entertainment in order to help them develop the skills and tools they need to build positive futures for themselves and the communities in which they live. The mission of the CCC is to instill integrity, honesty, professionalism, compassion, accountability, and respect. The program hopes to instill the youth with positive life skills and habits by providing them with mentoring from culturally-sensitive role models. The CCC is designed to be a community-driven and community-owned program. The RCMP provides support for the program through the dedicated CCC Coordinator position and by encouraging local RCMP members to assist with teaching drill to the cadets; however, each community is expected to provide funding for the program, provide an appropriate space, find volunteer community members (including a cadet leader) to lead the program, and determine the specific objectives and activities to ensure that the program meets their community's needs. The program is targeted toward youth aged 10 to 18 years who are attending school full-time. Typically, the cadets meet once a week after to school to practice drill and engage in other activities (e.g., sports, crafts) decided upon by their communities. The purpose of the current evaluation is to provide the RCMP "F" Division with an understanding of the processes, outputs and, where appropriate, measurable outcomes of the CCC program in Saskatchewan. Specifically, six questions guided this evaluation: - What factors facilitate the successful implementation of CCCs? - What support do CCCs require from Aboriginal Policing Services during start-up? - How has the CCC helped build partnerships between the RCMP and Aboriginal communities? - How does participation in the CCC impact the individual outcomes of youth during, and after, their involvement in the program? - How does the presence of a CCC impact a community? - What makes a CCC sustainable? Details: Saskatoon, SK: University of Saskatchewan, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies, 2014. 113p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2015 at: http://www.usask.ca/cfbsjs/research/pdf/research_reports/Evaluation%20of%20the%20CCC%20Program%20-%20Jan%2016.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.usask.ca/cfbsjs/research/pdf/research_reports/Evaluation%20of%20the%20CCC%20Program%20-%20Jan%2016.pdf Shelf Number: 134759 Keywords: Delinquency Prevention (Canada)Police Services for YouthYouth Programs |
Author: Watts, Brad Title: Evaluability Assessment of the NAFI Youth and Police Initiative Training, Final Report Summary: This report details the results of an Evaluability Assessment of the Youth-Police Initiative (YPI) training program conducted by the Center for Human Services Research with support from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The purpose of this evaluability assessment (EA) was to gauge the YPI program's readiness for evaluation and provide recommendations and technical assistance to prepare for an outcomes-based evaluation. - A five-task EA model originally developed for criminal justice programs guided the project's research methodology. The five tasks are 1) study the program history, design, and operation; 2) watch the program in action; 3) determine the capacity for data collection; 4) assess the likelihood that the program will reach its goals and objectives; and 5) show why an evaluation will or will not help the program and its stakeholders. - The YPI program model brings together youth and police to provide training on how to interact with each other and resolve conflicts. The approach has much in common with literature on attitude toward police and police legitimacy and has some roots in conflict resolution theory. - The YPI program has evolved during a decade of operation from a police-training model to a youth-oriented approach. Program design and approach quickly evolved from a police-oriented training for recent academy graduates (after the first two rounds of implementation) to a youth-oriented program within a community-based setting. There has been some ongoing variation in the details of implementation, which could challenge efforts to evaluate the program. - The YPI program has demonstrated capacity to collect data directly from participants. Pre- and post-training surveys have been collected from youth and police participants, and the YPI program has engaged in a pilot of longer-term follow-up surveys during this study. - Past data collection has not always been consistent. The program has used varying data collection forms. As part of the study, new data collection forms utilizing fieldtested measures of attitude change have been created and implemented. - The original stated goals of the YPI program are broad and ambitious, but may be difficult to achieve. Research on similar programs suggests that it is possible to change the attitudes and behaviors of individuals, but difficult to alter community-level impacts such as outcomes related to community violence or overall rates of conflict between youth and police. - Observation of YPI program training sessions revealed that implementation mostly matches the program model. The sessions were small (14 youth, 9 officers), focused on developing youth presentation and leadership skills, and used hands-on scenarios and interactions to build relationships between police and youth over a short period of time. - YPI program data suggests that improvement in attitude has occurred amongst participating youth. Data from existing surveys was analyzed to determine if changes occurred in the desired or expected ways over time. The change in youth ratings suggests that it should be possible to measure attitude-based outcomes in a future evaluation. - Analysis of past data found no change in police attitudes. However, it should be noted that police officers generally gave the program good ratings for helping to build trust, developing positive relationships, and helping them to see youth in a more positive light. Evidence on attitude change amongst police officers participating in the YPI program was limited by the small number of surveys available. - YPI program staff and other stakeholders are interested in evaluation. The benefits of a future evaluation include continuous program improvement, the ability to provide robust evidence to interested communities and police departments, and the possibility of developing into an "evidence-based" program model. Major Recommendations - The program goals and logic model should be revised to reflect a focused set of attainable outcome goals. Many of the YPI program's original goals are ambitious but may be difficult to achieve. Suggested goals that are more tightly aligned with program activities include changing participants' attitudes, improving ability of participants to handle youth-police interactions, creating a positive training experience, reducing negative youth-police interactions, and reducing criminal involvement among youth participants. - New data collection forms and protocol should be implemented. During the study new forms were created and piloted with measures related to the suggested goals and outcomes. It is also recommended that the YPI program create and maintain a consistent database of all survey responses that will help support future evaluation efforts. - Outcomes should be measured over a longer period of time. In addition to new forms for pre/post training data collection, new draft follow-up questionnaires were also created to capture medium-to-long-term outcomes. It is recommended that these follow-up surveys be conducted with both youth and police participants approximately threemonths after the training sessions are completed. Additionally, future evaluation efforts could be aided by the collection of crime data reports on youth participants for a period of several months after program participation. Details: Albany, NY: CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES RESEARCH UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK. 2017. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/251113.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/251113.pdf Shelf Number: 149478 Keywords: Juvenile MentoringPolice LegitimacyPolice-Citizen InteractionsPolice-Community RelationsPolice-Juvenile RelationsYouth Programs |