Project Community Service

1. UCLAHONORS 105 CLIENT BASED PROGRAM EVALUATION ProjectCommunityService

2. History • Organized under the guidance of the National Girls Club of America on May 15, 1972 • Served over 50,000 girls and boys ages 2-18 living in South Los Angeles

3. Vision Committed to leading the world in quality service to children, youth, families and communities

4. Where is GCLA?

5. Programs Currently, GCLA serves over 6,000 children, youth and their families annually through three main components: • Early Education • Youth Development • Community Outreach • Project Community Service

6. Project Community Service • Project Community Service is a Court-referred community service program at GCLA. • It provides service opportunities to: -Low Income -Minority -Youth and Adults -Committed Minor Offenses

7. Current Structure of PCS. • Those referred to our facility are sent by local Courts or area Volunteer Centers, and they undergo a three step intake process: -Initial orientation/interview -Appointment of Service assignment -Post orientation upon completion of total hours

8. Types of Service Available There are four departments for potential community service placement: • Front Office • Kitchen • Faith Children Center • Youth Development Department

9. Age ofParticipants

10. Gender of Participants

11. According to CHIS data, most parents in South Los Angeles know about their child's whereabouts in the afternoon. But the majority of students who are sent to our program have committed offenses at school, or their way to school or immediately after school.

12. Most Common Offenses

13. Research Question How can staff and participants’ input be used to further develop the structure of the program to have a more measurable impact on participants?

14. Methodology • Qualitative Data • Conducted Key Staff Interviews (5 Staff Members) • Focus Group (5 Completed Participants) • Quantitative Data • Gathered local statistics • Demographics of participants (Evaluating Initial Intake Applications) • Collected Information Regarding Offenses Committed

15. Key Staff Interviewees Staff who oversee Project Community Service AKeisha Davis: • Director of Community Service • 10 years of service at GCLA Sonya Vasquez • Program Director • 9 years of service at GCLA

16. Key Staff Interviewees Contd. Staff who supervise Project Community Service Participants Joanna Williams • Center Director of Faith Children's Center • 6.5 years of service at GCLA Darleni Leon • Teacher • 4 years of service at GCLA Ana Suarez • Assistant Cook • 5 years of service at GCLA

17. Staff Interview Findings • All staff interviewed would recommend the PCS program to others • 4 of 5 staff interviewed believe participants gain skills through their participation in PCS Program • 4 of 5 staff interviewed perceive PCS Program as a source of free labor • 3 of 5 staff applied preconceived labels to youth who participate in PCS Program

18. Participant Findings • All participants committed one or more offenses prior to participating in the Community Service Program at GCLA. • 4 out of 5 were mandated to serve 40-80 hours of Community Service • All chose the center because they thought it would be an “easy” to complete their service hours. • All focus groups participants live within a 2 mile radius of the center. • None of the participants received any training. • All felt that the staff were concerned about their “lives” not just their committed offenses. • All participants were given Community. Service For traffic violations and minor school infractions. (Tardy, Fighting)

19. Overlapping Findings

20. Future ProgramRecommendations PARTICIPANTS -Find better ways to apply skills to community service assignments. -More structured scheduling and assignments. • Would like skills training. • More cross-training • Need orientation so familiarize with staff, departments and other programs at GCLA. STAFF - Structure the program so that it includes skills enhancement component in direct relation to the offense. • Have the program only serve youth. (Adults more difficult to work with) • Continue to maintain and develop the program overall. • Find ways to obtain funding for program. • Target more girls.

21. Future Policy Recommendations • Upon evaluation of staff and participant findings, the following goals for Project Community Service have been identified: • Goals of Project Community Service • To reduce delinquency and recidivism • To promote pro-social behavior • To promote school success and employment practices • To promote self-efficacy • To strengthen family and parenting practices

22. Future Policy Recommendations • Steps to establishment of goals: • Focus on youth for Project Community Service • Sensitivity training for GCLA Staff on the youth culture • Structured orientation for participants and parents • Structured intake process which identifies skill sets • Refer participants who are not a good “fit” to outside agencies • Structured evaluation process for participants, staff and program • Open communication between all departmental staff and participants • Employment workshops for participants • Job development program which seeks out job opportunities for participants • Separate staff-facilitated support groups for participants and parents

23. Claudia Rodriguez-AIDS Project Los Angeles Dana Jackson- Girls Club of Los Angeles LaToya Walker- UCLA Sociology Karume James- UCLA African American Studies Jessica Hutcheson- Girls Club of Los Angeles