NCJ Number
193822
Date Published
2001
Length
91 pages
Annotation
Based on an interim report of evaluation research conducted on San Francisco's first five Beacon Centers between fall 1998 and summer 2000, this summary highlights the initiative's progress toward fulfilling its mission of offering a broad range of youth-development opportunities in education, career development, arts and recreation, leadership, and health.
Abstract
In 1994 a broad-based group of San Francisco leaders set out to transform public schools in low-income neighborhoods into youth and family centers that would become a "beacon" of activity to unite the community. Five centers of the Beacon Initiative opened in 1996; three others were added in 1999. Together they served 7,500 youths and adults between July 1, 1999, and June 30, 2000. The centers -- through programs both before and after school, on weekends, and during the summer -- offer a broad range of opportunities for youth in the areas of education, career development, arts and recreation, leadership, and health. Neighborhood adults benefit from English and computer lessons, community events, and parent support groups. Each center is responsive to the local needs and conditions of its specific neighborhood and host school. The evaluation involved the collection of data maintained by each center as well as surveys of youth in three schools to determine how they spend their out-of-school time and their development opportunities. The evaluation found that the Beacon Initiative has made considerable progress toward creating youth-development centers that attract the funding and community support required to help them thrive. The centers have met most of the early implementation goals; many of the intermediate goals, which have focused on stabilizing the initiatives and ensuring programmatic diversity and breadth, have also been achieved. The leaders have devised strategies to accomplish remaining intermediate goals, such as ensuring quality across a number of programs. The evaluation concludes that the design, implementation, and ongoing support of the Beacon Centers provide important information for cities that are planning to implement similar strategies. 12 notes, 49 references, an appended descriptions of five Beacon Centers, partnerships and collaboration, and survey information