NCJ Number
241366
Date Published
November 2012
Length
57 pages
Annotation
This study describes Youth Intervention Programs (YIP) participant characteristics and findings of the effects of these programs on youth in Minnesota.
Abstract
Results indicate that programs receiving YIP funding are serving a population of youth that is more racially diverse and has greater risk-factors than Minnesota youth as a whole. At post-survey, YIP participants articulate statistically significant improvement in school behavior, attendance and achievement, as well as prosocial problem-solving and decisionmaking skills. YIP participants self-report a reduction in alcohol and drug use, and a large majority did not report new delinquency offenses while participating in the program. In this manner, many of the stated goals and statutory components of YIP are supported by survey outcomes. Less clear is evidence of improved family-based behaviors or community-based outcomes. YIP participants do not typically report improvement in their emotional health or having more adults they can go to with tough personal problems. The main areas of improvement for youth are in their self-perceptions. These do not always translate to statistically significant improvements in behavior such as fewer days late to school; passing more classes; less frequent alcohol use, or fewer interpersonal conflicts. Nevertheless, cognitive-behavioral models support that changing the way youth see themselves and their values is a necessary first step to behavior change. Charts and appendixes