BIG BROTHERS OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS (LA) - A PROCESS EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 64422
• Author(s): J L ASHCRAFT
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 38 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: New Orleans Mayor's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT PROVIDES AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FIRST 9 MONTHS OF THE EXPANDED OPERATION OF THE BIG BROTHERS PROGRAM IN NEW ORLEANS, LA., FROM JANUARY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1979.

Abstract

AFTER RECEIVING A GRANT FROM LEAA, THE BIG BROTHERS PROGRAM ANTICIPATED EXPANDING ITS SERVICES BY RECRUITING AN ADDITIONAL 75 BOYS (LITTLE BROTHERS) AND MATCHING AT LEAST 25 OF THEM WITH MALES (BIG BROTHERS). HOWEVER, TWO ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES DELAYED PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND PROGRAM GOALS. ONLY 62.5 PERCENT OF THE ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF BOYS WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM AND 47 PERCENT OF THE MATCHES BETWEEN THESE BOYS AND THEIR BIG BROTHERS WERE MADE. SLIGHTLY LESS THAN HALF THE NUMBER OF ADULT MALE VOLUNTEERS ANTICIPATED WERE RECRUITED. ANOTHER GOAL NOT IMPLEMENTED WAS THE PROPOSAL THAT GROUP MEETINGS FOR THE MOTHERS OF MATCHED BOYS BE HELD. AN ELEMENTARY COST ASSESSMENT INDICATED THAT THE PROGRAM HAD BEEN FAIRLY EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE. HOWEVER, ONE PROGRAM PROPOSAL WAS ACHIEVED: THE BOYS WITH PRIOR CRIMINAL CONTACT HAD LESS FREQUENT CONTACT AFTER THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR BIG BROTHERS HAD STABILIZED. TO ENSURE FUTURE EFFECTIVENESS, SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED: (1) EFFORTS TO INCREASE ADULT MALE VOLUNTEERS SHOULD BE ASSESSED FOR EFFECTIVENESS AND INTENSIFIED WHERE SUCCESSFUL; (2) THE PROGRAM SHOULD ACTIVELY SEEK TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF LITTLE BROTHERS ON THE WAITING LIST; (3) ADDITIONAL INDICATORS OF BEHAVIORAL IMPROVEMENT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED; (4) EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO REDUCE THE TIME, ESPECIALLY FOR LITTLE BROTHERS, BETWEEN APPLICATION AND MATCH; (5) GROUP MEETINGS FOR BOTH BIG BROTHERS AND MOTHERS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED WITH ATTENDANCE REQUIRED, IF NECESSARY; (6) MATCHES, ONCE MADE, SHOULD BE MORE CLOSELY MONITORED; AND (7) ALL INITIAL APPLICATIONS FROM POTENTIAL LITTLE BROTHERS SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED WITH REASONS FOR REFUSAL SPECIFIED IF APPLICABLE. TABLES AND AN APPENDIX CONTAINING A PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND LETTERS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PRG)