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College Gateway Program: AIMing high

College Gateway Program: AIMing high. Results from a Program Evaluation W. Neil Gowensmith, PhD University of Denver. College Gateway Program: Outline . I. Description of Gateway II. Description of the Program Evaluation Process III. Results A. Current Students B. Gateway Graduates

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College Gateway Program: AIMing high

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  1. College Gateway Program:AIMing high Results from a Program Evaluation W. Neil Gowensmith, PhD University of Denver

  2. College Gateway Program:Outline • I. Description of Gateway • II. Description of the Program Evaluation Process • III. Results • A. Current Students • B. Gateway Graduates • C. Putting It All Together: What Makes Gateway Gateway? • IV. Future Directions • A. Additional Research • B. Dissemination • C. Future Collaboration

  3. The College Gateway Program What is it?

  4. The College Gateway Program:What is it? • A program of college curriculum and social support designed for ex-offenders to begin and succeed in higher education • Housed at Red Rocks Community College, Lakewood CO • Began in 2006 • 3 consecutive 3-credit, 7-week classes • More than 500 graduates to date • 2 paid staff and a host of work-study positions • Supported financially by RRCC and federal JAG grant (2 years)

  5. The College Gateway Program:What is it? An academic perspective • Attends to the “Central Eight” criminogenic factors of offenders (Andrews, 2006)

  6. “Central eight” for criminal behavior (Andrews, 2006)

  7. The College Gateway Program:What is it? An academic perspective • Attends to the “Central Eight” criminogenic factors of offenders (Andrews, 2006) • Utilizes the Risk-Need-Responsivity model (Bonta & Andrews, 2007)

  8. The Risk-Need-Responsivity Model • Risk: • Focus resources on high RISK cases • Need: • Attend to the criminogenic NEEDS of offenders • Responsivity: • Tailor the interventions to make sure the participant is as RESPONSIVE as they can be

  9. The College Gateway Program:What is it? An academic perspective • Attends to the “Central Eight” criminogenic factors of offenders (Andrews, 2006) • Utilizes the Risk-Need-Responsivity model (Bonta & Andrews, 2007) • A surprise element…?

  10. The College Gateway Program:What is it? A Gateway perspective “…a curriculum and support system that encourages you to use your skills and abilities in new ways, so you become a successful contributor to your family and community. However, Gateway is about more than academics. We provide personal attention to students while combining traditional coursework with other life skills. Through mentoring, technical assistance, and other resources, we assist you in making positive changes in all areas of your life. Perhaps most importantly, College Gateway is a family. Participants enjoy fun activities such as picnics, holiday dinners, and clubs. Staff and students in the program truly care for one another, providing an on-going support system that encourages and celebrates each participant’s success.”

  11. The College Gateway Program:What is it? A Gateway perspective “…a curriculumand supportsystem that encourages you to use your skills and abilities in newways, so you become a successful contributor to your family and community. However, Gateway is about more than academics. We provide personal attention to students while combining traditional coursework with other life skills. Through mentoring, technical assistance, and other resources, we assist you in making positive changes in all areas of your life. Perhaps most importantly, College Gateway is a family. Participants enjoy fun activities such as picnics, holiday dinners, and clubs. Staff and students in the program truly care for one another, providing an on-going support system that encouragesand celebrates each participant’s success.”

  12. The College Gateway Program Program Evaluation

  13. The College Gateway Program:Program Evaluation • History • Funded by an internal grant at University of Denver • Awarded to Dr. Neil Gowensmith • Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Professional Psychology • Structure • May 2012 – May 2013 • 3 GSSP students in the Masters of Forensic Psychology program are paired with 3 current Gateway personnel • All phases of the project are mutually derived and implemented

  14. The College Gateway Program:Program Evaluation Methodology: Three main categories under study • Gateway graduates • Current students • Qualitative variables

  15. The College Gateway Program:Program Evaluation Methodology: Three main categories under study • Gateway graduates • Current students • Pre and post measures • Historical / demographic variables • Questions about Gateway elements • Qualitative variables

  16. The College Gateway Program:Program Evaluation Methodology: Three main categories under study • Gateway graduates • Self-reported pre and post measures • Historical / demographic variables • Variables since graduation • Current students • Pre and post measures • Historical / demographic variables • Questions about Gateway elements • Qualitative variables

  17. The College Gateway Program:Program Evaluation Methodology: Three main categories under study • Gateway graduates • Self-reported pre and post measures • Historical / demographic variables • Variables since graduation • Gateway elements • Current students • Pre and post measures • Historical / demographic variables • Questions about Gateway elements • Qualitative variables • Interview-based information • Tracking progress through the Gateway journey • Open-ended questions on both surveys

  18. The College Gateway Program:Program Evaluation • Methodology • Surveys drafted, edited, and finalized through group process • Surveys to current students: • Disseminated and collected in Gateway classes • 10-15 minutes per survey • 72collected to date

  19. The College Gateway Program:Program Evaluation • Methodology • Surveys to former students: • Disseminated and collected at Gateway graduation • 49 collected to date • Other graduates to be contacted through email / Facebook • Online survey to be made available • Qualitative interviews: • Brief interviews with same students throughout the 21-week Gateway curriculum • In progress (none completed to date)

  20. The College Gateway Program Results

  21. Who is the “typical” Gateway student? The College Gateway Program: Results

  22. Who is the “typical” Gateway student? The College Gateway Program: Results

  23. Who is the “typical” Gateway student? Demographics: Age: 37 years old Kids: 1+ Schooling: Highest grade completed: 10.8 Percentage of high school graduates (not counting GED): 33.0% Drugs / alcohol: 87% have abused drugs or alcohol in the past Average of 16 years each Community corrections supervision: 75% on probation, parole or other supervision The College Gateway Program: Results

  24. Who is the “typical” Gateway student? Criminal history: Age at first arrest: 19 years Age at first incarceration: 24 years Average number of incarcerations: 6.5 Conviction and sentencing history 86% convicted of felony Average of 2.7 times each 38% convicted of a violent misdemeanor 37% convicted of a violent felony 89% sentenced to probation, with an average of 2.4 times each The College Gateway Program: Results

  25. Who is the “typical” Gateway student? Family characteristics: Percentage w/ at least 1 parent who abused drugs or alcohol: 57% Percentage w/ at least 1 parent not graduating high school: 55% Percentage w/ at least 1 family members who has served time: 74% 41% parent 56% sibling 8% child Percentage of Gateway students living with family: 52% (9% are homeless) The College Gateway Program: Results

  26. Who is the “typical” Gateway student? In short… The deck is stacked against them. The College Gateway Program: Results

  27. Who is the “typical” Gateway student? Victim of discrimination? 79.5% Examples: “Constantly. It is an uphill battle for employment and residence. Although Iam currently employed, I am scarred for life because of bad decisions as a youth.” “I have had the interview 3/4 of the way in the door until they did the background check.” “I was denied an apartment for a felony that I was charged with but wasn't even convicted of.” “Yes, I have experienced many types of discrimination, but felony discrimination is the worst. Almost no one wants to rent to a felon, or hire one. Gateway hired me as a work study and provided personal references that led me to getting an apartment.” The College Gateway Program: Results

  28. How do current Gateway students fare? The College Gateway Program: Results

  29. How do current Gateway students fare? The College Gateway Program: Results ** Both comparisons statistically significant, p < .01

  30. How do current Gateway students fare? The College Gateway Program: Results ** Both comparisons statistically significant, p < .01

  31. How do current Gateway students fare? The College Gateway Program: Results ** Both comparisons statistically significant, p < .01

  32. Reworking the above results • Current Gateway students rated several aspects of their lives on a 1-10 scale, comparing life before Gateway to life while in Gateway. Here’s what they said: • Overall quality of life went up by 60% • Self-esteem went up by 57% • The quality of their family relationships went up 36% • Drug and alcohol use went down 32% • Also: • 68% report never thinking about committing a new crime • 90% have had no new arrests, charges, or technical violations

  33. How do current Gateway students fare? Better quality of life? You bet: 78% have developed new friends since joining Gateway 84% now engage in new activities during their spare time 26% spend more than 11 hours per week on the RRCC campus 35% are involved in the Red Rocks Outreach Community Club 58% will go on to enroll at Red Rocks Community College The College Gateway Program: Results

  34. How do Gateway graduates fare? The College Gateway Program: Results

  35. How do Gateway graduates fare? The College Gateway Program: Results ** Both comparisons statistically significant, p < .01

  36. How do Gateway graduates fare? The College Gateway Program: Results ** Both comparisons statistically significant, p < .01

  37. How do Gateway graduates fare? The College Gateway Program: Results ** Both comparisons statistically significant, p < .01

  38. How do Gateway graduates fare? Some miscellaneous results: Criminal justice: 50% are “off paper” (no more court supervision) Education: 65% are taking additional classes 40% Associate’s, 4% Bachelors, 8% Masters 0% drop out rate 0% report “no future educational goals” Employment / housing 66% are working 29% live with family, only 1% homeless The College Gateway Program: Results

  39. Reworking the above results • Gateway graduates rated several aspects of their lives on a 1-10 scale, comparing life before Gateway to after Gateway. Here’s what they said: • Overall quality of life went up by 87% after graduating from Gateway • Self-esteem went up by 86% • The quality of their family relationships went up 46% • Drug and alcohol use went down 51% • Also: • 81% report never thinking about committing a new crime • 92% have had no new arrests, charges, or technical violations • 57% are free and clear of all legal requirements • 75% are currently enrolled in school • 58% are working

  40. The College Gateway Program:Results What skills do Gateway students learn? • 28%: Computer skills • 62%: Employment / occupational skills • 77%: Relationship skills (parenting, relationship, etc.) • 89%: Communication skills

  41. The College Gateway Program:Results What factors do students say are most important about Gateway?

  42. The College Gateway Program:Results • What do graduates say about Gateway? • “I now have a better idea to do what I want: to continue my education.” • “It helped me find myself and more.” • “You all gave me hope.” • “I moved on and have taken off in a new direction.” • “Gateway helped me discover myself.” • “They put me on track.”

  43. The College Gateway Program:Results • In short, Gateway works! • Gateway starts with the toughest population • They instill hope through support • They retain and graduate students • They prepare students for school and jobs • They reduce recidivism and substance abuse • They improve quality of life

  44. The College Gateway Program:Results • Caveats • Sampling bias • Point-in-time • No control groups

  45. The College Gateway Program:Results Putting it all together: What makes Gateway “Gateway?” • Adherence to criminogenic factors?

  46. “Central eight” for criminal behavior (Andrews, 2006)

  47. The College Gateway Program:What is it? Putting it all together: What makes Gateway “Gateway?” • Attends to the “Central Eight” criminogenic factors of offenders -- YES • Utilization of the Risk-Need-Responsivity model?

  48. The Risk-Need-Responsivity Model • Risk: • Focus resources on high RISK cases • Need: • Attend to the criminogenic NEEDS of offenders • Responsivity: • Tailor the interventions to make sure the participant is as RESPONSIVE as they can be

  49. The College Gateway Program:What is it? Putting it all together: What makes Gateway “Gateway?” • Attends to the “Central Eight” criminogenic factors of offenders – YES • Utilizes the Risk-Need-Responsivity model – YES • A surprise element…?

  50. The College Gateway Program:What is it? Putting it all together: What makes Gateway “Gateway?” • Attends to the “Central Eight” criminogenic factors of offenders • Utilizes the Risk-Need-Responsivity model • A surprise element…? The Gateway AIMS

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