NCJ Number
189355
Journal
Adolescent and Family Health Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2001 Pages: 27-36
Date Published
2001
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article presents a qualitative, narrative evaluative summary of the history, challenges, and accomplishments of one medium-sized, Midwestern community's comprehensive initiative to enhance youth development opportunities, parent empowerment, and community supports for its children, youth, and families.
Abstract
Over a 5-year period, the initiative mobilized broad segments of the community in the development of a common vision for youth development, and it planned and implemented several projects congruent with that vision. Based on key informant interviews and a review of archival information, the evaluation viewed lessons learned through the "theory-of-change" and "hierarchy-of-results" models for evaluating comprehensive community initiatives. The initiative implemented several programs and saw aspects of its vision incorporated into the fabric of the county's life. On the other hand, it did not radically transform the county's social service agencies, its schools, or the mechanisms for community planning. It influenced the lives of children, youth, and families reached through its programs, but its influence did not spread to all children, youth, and families in the county, as evidenced by the apparent lack of impact on available community indicators. Recommendations for improving the impact of such initiatives pertain to articulation of the message, theories of change, mobilization, top-down versus bottom-up approaches, process versus product, promoting a vision versus providing services, benchmarks of progress, sustainable funding, and evaluation. 2 figures and 28 references