NCJ Number
43325
Date Published
1974
Length
36 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF A COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROJECT IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., FOUND COURT REFERRALS WERE REDUCED FOR THE TOTAL GROUP, WHILE ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL IMPROVED ON 6 OF 14 MEASURES.
Abstract
USABLE DATA WAS OBTAINED FOR 136 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN A PROJECT DESIGNED TO REDUCE COURT REFERRALS, IMPROVE ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL, AND INCREASE A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. THE 100 STUDENTS ATTENDING THE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM HAD 48 COURT REFERRALS IN THE PREPROGRAM PERIOD (1972-73) AND 13 POSTPROGRAM (1973-74). FELONIES OR GROSS MISDEMEANORS DROPPED FROM 26 TO 7. THE 36 STUDENTS IN THE BRYANT JUNIOR HIGH PROGRAM HAD 16 COURT REFERRALS PREPROGRAM AND 12 POSTPROGRAM. TOTAL REFERRALS DROPPED FROM 64 TO 25, WHICH WAS MORE THAN PROGRAM TARGET OF A 50 PERCENT REDUCTION. 'ATTITUDE TOWARD SCHOOL' QUESTIONNAIRES WERE GIVEN TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND COMPARED WITH RESULTS OBTANED FROM VARIOUS STUDENT BODIES AT LARGE. IT HAD BEEN FOUND THAT RESPONSES ON THIS QUESTIONNAIRE CHANGE LITTLE OVER TIME UNLESS SIGNIFICANT INTERVENTION TAKES PLACE. THE STUDENTS AT BRYANT JUNIOR HIGH HAD LOWER SCORES TO BEGIN WITH BUT SHOWED THE GREATEST ATTITUDE IMPROVEMENT. THREE MEASURES IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY (AT THE 0.5 STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL) REGARDLESS OF SEX OR SCHOOL: THE SCHOOL SUBTOTAL, THE TOTAL SCORE ON THE SELF-APPRAISAL INVENTORY, AND APPROVAL OF TEACHERS. RESPONSIBILITY INDICATORS ALSO IMPROVED.