NCJ Number
25607
Date Published
1974
Length
370 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DETAILS THE HISTORY, DEVELOPMENT, AND RESULTS OF THE CHICAGO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CYDP), AND THROUGH A DISCUSSION OF THE PROJECT SHORTCOMINGS AND FAILURES PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE EFFORTS.
Abstract
THE CYDP WAS AN ACTION-RESEARCH PROGRAM JOINTLY UNDERTAKEN BY THE CHICAGO BOYS' CLUB AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH. THE PROJECT WAS INTENDED TO TEST WHETHER A PROGRAM OF AGGRESSIVE STREET WORK AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN THE CORE OF A LARGE AMERICAN CITY COULD REDUCE DELINQUENCY AMONG THE YOUTH LIVING THERE. A BASIC OUTLINE OF THE PROJECT'S ASSUMPTIONS AND GOALS IS FIRST PROVIDED. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT DESIGN AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CYDP. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CYDP'S PROGRAM WITH REGARD TO THE ADULT COMMUNITY AND THE JUVENILES IS THEN PRESENTED. THE ASSESSMENT SOUGHT TO DETERMINE THE PROGRAM'S EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, THE IMPACT OF THE CYDP ON DELINQUENCY, AND THE GENERAL IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CYPD DID NOT EFFECT MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN THE DELINQUENCY RATES OF ITS IMMEDIATE CLIENTELE NOR IN THE TARGET AREAS WHICH IT SERVED. HOWEVER, SOME BENEFITS WERE DERIVED FROM THE PROGRAM, AND ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT. THE IMPACT OF THE CYDP ON THE CHICAGO BOYS' CLUBS IS ALSO DISCUSSED. FINALLY, IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY ARE EXAMINED, AND POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS ARE OUTLINED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)