NCJ Number
237267
Date Published
2009
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses the Harlem Children's Zone, a program in New York City's Central Harlem aimed at combatting childhood poverty.
Abstract
The Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) was established over 10 years ago in Central Harlem to combat childhood poverty. The aim of the strategy is to reach the greatest number of poor children in a broad and effective manner so as to make them better educated and better prepared to enter the marketplace as productive members of society. The HCZ model focuses primarily on the social, health, and educational development of children through the application of five core principles: 1) serve an entire neighborhood comprehensively and at scale; 2) create a pipeline of support for children and their families; 3) build community among residents, institutions, and stakeholders who help to create the necessary environment for children's health development; 4) evaluate program outcomes and create a feedback loop that cycles data back to management for use in improving programs; and 5) cultivate a culture of success based on passion, accountability, leadership, and teamwork. These five principles are discussed in detail in this report, along with a set of policy recommendations that include: 1) apply the principles of the HCZ model to other communities; 2) expect that it will take at least 10 years to fully implement a pipeline and see major outcomes; 3) ensure that a community organization is the lead entity with full accountability; 4) obtain secure, sufficient, and sustainable funding for each participant; and 5) begin strategic planning at the outset, and plan for the long term. Figures, appendixes, and references