Latin American Youth Center Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers

1. Latin American Youth CenterMaryland Multicultural Youth Centers

2. Our Mission The LAYC Family of Organizations is a network of youth centers, schools, and social enterprises with a shared commitment to help youth become successful and happy young adults. Latin American Youth Center

3. What We Provide • Health and Wellness housing, mental health counseling, substance use prevention and treatment, violence prevention • Educational Support in-school tutoring, homework assistance, college preparation, health education, charter schools, GED preparation • Workforce Readiness job skills, work specific literacy and math training, job placement Latin American Youth Center

4. LAYC 2008 Demographic Data and Outputs • LAYC served 3,517 individuals (unduplicated count) during FY08: • 86 percent were 10 to 24 years old. • 62 percent were Latino/a, 31 percent were African American • 31 percent were Montgomery or Prince George’s County residents • LAYC served 2,382 DC residents, including residents from all 8 wards • 45 percent of individuals served were born outside the United States • 50 percent of individuals served spoke a language other than English as their primary language • LAYC provided 13,774 hours of tutoring, homework assistance, and other academic support to participants during FY08. Latin American Youth Center

5. LAYC 2008 Outcomes • 63 individuals received their GED after completing LAYC GED preparation programs. • LAYC trained and placed 196 individuals in jobs during FY08, with an average starting wage of $8.74. An additional 43 individuals were placed in internships. • LAYC provided short-term, foster care, and long-term residential housing to 94 participants, and provided training to 36 potential new foster parents. • LAYC worked with 33 participants who completed college preparation work and enrolled in post-secondary institutions. An additional 27 participants entered vocational training programs. Latin American Youth Center

6. Powell Elementary School Data • Obtained Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) data from principal at Powell for 2007-2008 academic year • Used data to compare how LAYC participants were performing compared to the rest of the school • Analysis focused on how individual students improved their BAS scores over the year Latin American Youth Center

7. Powell ES Outcomes - Math Latin American Youth Center

8. Powell ES Outcomes - Reading Latin American Youth Center

9. Powell Analysis Summary • In math, LAYC participants made significant improvements in their BAS scores during the school year – outperforming and in some cases catching the performance of their non-LAYC peers • In reading, LAYC participants showed slight increases in BAS scored during the school year – however, their non-LAYC peers’ scores DECREASED during the same time • LAYC’s success at Powell was even greater with Latinos and the ELL/NEP/LEP/ESL populations Latin American Youth Center

10. Target youth: Low income 11-24 y.o. living in areas with large Latino populations in MD and DC Youth complete intake and screening to assess needs LAYC Services Education Employment STAR Skills Arts Mental Health Substance Abuse Housing Community Resources Parental Involvement Advocacy efforts Raising public awareness Participating in the public policy process Improve the application / enforcement of existing laws Obtain access to institutions, decision-makers, and resources Advocacy outcomes Creating positive change in conditions, policies, and laws that affect youth in our communities, thereby raising the standard of living for them and their families “LAYC/MMYC Theory of Change” Mission Help youth become Successful and Happy young adults Youth with highest risks and needs Youth with lower risks and needs Outcomes Increased Academic Success Increased Employment Success Improved healthy behaviors Track effectiveness of services Ongoing assessment of youth progress Latin American Youth Center

11. Who are the Promotores? • Promotores are adults who work intentionally and deliberately to build relationships designed to transform a young person’s life. • LAYC/MMYC Promotores link youth to services that enable them to succeed academically, obtain long-term employment, and to live healthy and productive lives. Latin American Youth Center

12. LAYC’s services work towards improving academic performance, increased employment, and healthy behaviors LAYC Outcomes and Indicators Latin American Youth Center

13. New Client Management Model Design • LAYC/MMYC Promotores will work with a minimum of 275 (100 in MD) disconnected youth over the next two years • These disconnected youth will have some or all of the following characteristics: • Homeless or in foster care • Substance abuse or mental health issues • Criminal justice involvement • At risk of dropping out of school • Out of school with no diploma or GED • Unemployed or underemployed • LAYC/MMYC will also continue to work with over 4,000 (1,000 in MD) additional youth through our full range of programming Latin American Youth Center

14. Promotores Short-term Outcomes • Promotores Model has been operating since September 2008, serving 68 youth • These youth have shown the following progress: • 14 youth have improved or maintained their housing status – including 7 who are no longer homeless • 15 have obtained health insurance • 5 have enrolled in GED programs and continue to successfully participate • 9 youth have demonstrated improvements in job readiness skills Latin American Youth Center

15. LAYC developed a tool to screen youth for risk factors Youth with these characteristics will definitely receive a Promotor • Primary risk factors for youth: • Housing issues or homeless • Unsafe home environment • Substance abuse issues • Mental health issues • Criminal justice involvement • Secondary risk factors for youth: • Has IEP or 504 • Held back a grade or failing classes • Has recently been suspended • No diploma/GED • Unemployed or existing job does not support self or family • Ongoing childcare responsibilities within the family • Has child or is expecting • Close friend or family member convicted of a crime or in a gang • Exhibits some mental health concerns (e.g. depression, anger) Youth with these characteristics will likely receive a Promotor Latin American Youth Center

16. LAYC will assign youth to different levels based on their risk factors Level 6 Level 2 Level 1 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Youth with highest risks and needs Youth with moderate risks and needs Youth with lower risks and needs Each Promotor will be responsible for moving youth to successively higher levels Latin American Youth Center

17. What Will the Promotores Do? • Assess the needs of disconnected youth • Connect youth to needed services within LAYC/MMYC or refer youth to external services • Form long-lasting relationships with youth; acting as mentors, advocates, and avenues for support • Follow-up with service providers to ensure each youth achieves identified outcomes Latin American Youth Center

18. How Do Promotores Differ from Case Managers? • Promotores work across programs to address all youth needs • Traditional case management works with youth in one area or for a single intervention • Promotores will continue to work with youth even after they have completed services or programs • Promotores will work with youth over an extended period of time • Traditional case management ends after the programmatic intervention, lasting only 6 to 18 months • Promotores will work with youth for 4 to 6 years (48 to 72 months) Latin American Youth Center

19. LAYC will hire an external evaluator to document the effectiveness of the model • Although the Promotores model is based in sound research, it is fairly unique. An external evaluator will help with data analysis and data collection for a comparison group so that we can better determine the full effect of the Promotores model. • This is a new approach that will gain interest from national audiences. An external evaluation will lend more credibility to our findings. • An external evaluation will make fundraising for the continuation of the Promotores model easier. Latin American Youth Center

20. Outcomes and Performance Management • Recently received grant from the World Bank to complete an external evaluation of the Promotores Model – RFP to be issued by end of February 2009 • LAYC’s own Learning and Evaluation Division will continue to analyze all relevant data, such as demographic, attendance, output, and outcome information to refine Promotores Model Latin American Youth Center