A PLACE TO GROW EVALUATION OF THE NEW YORK CITY BEACONS FINAL REPORT Constancia Warren, Ph.D. Michelle Feist, M.A. Nancy Nevarez, B.A. New York City 2002 In memory of Linda Pitts whose commitment to youth inspired this report TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. iii Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Background ....................................................................................................................................... 1 The Beacon Evaluation ...................................................................................................................... 2 Major Findings .................................................................................................................................. 6 Organization of This Report .............................................................................................................. 9 Chapter One: Studying Youth Development at the Beacons ........................................................... 10 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Questions About Youth-Development Programming .................................................................... 11 Methods Used to Study Youth-Development Programming............................................................ 11 Logic Model for Survey and Interview Development ..................................................................... 14 The Youth Sample ........................................................................................................................... 15 Chapter Two: Youth-Development Programming at the Beacons .................................................. 21 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 21 A Youth-Development Environment .............................................................................................. 21 Youth-Development Activities at the Beacons ............................................................................... 24 Youth Participation in Beacon Activities ........................................................................................ 25 Levels of Youth-Development Quality ........................................................................................... 27 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 31 Chapter Three: Relationships with Peers .......................................................................................... 33 Elementary School Youth ................................................................................................................ 33 Middle- and High-School-Age Youth ............................................................................................. 34 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter Four: Relationships with Adults .......................................................................................... 37 Elementary School Youth ................................................................................................................ 37 Middle- and High-School-Age Youth ............................................................................................. 38 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 42 Chapter Five: Feeling Safe at the Beacon .......................................................................................... 43 Elementary School Youth ................................................................................................................ 43 Middle- and High-School-Age Youth ............................................................................................. 44 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 48 Chapter Six: Feeling Good at the Beacon .......................................................................................... 49 Elementary School Youth ................................................................................................................ 49 Middle- and High-School-Age Youth ............................................................................................. 50 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 53 Chapter Seven: Leadership Development and Civic Participation at the Beacon ......................... 55 Participation in Leadership Activities ............................................................................................. 55 Learning Leadership Skills .............................................................................................................. 57 Community Service and Civic Participation ................................................................................... 60 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 62 Chapter Eight: Educational Programming at the Beacons .............................................................. 63 Elementary School Youth ................................................................................................................ 63 Middle- and High-School-Age Youth ............................................................................................. 65 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 70 Chapter Nine: Resistance Skills And Risk Behavior ........................................................................ 71 Elementary School Youth................................................................................................................. 71 Middle- and High-School-Age Youth ............................................................................................. 72 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 80 Chapter Ten: Quality in Youth-Development Practice .................................................................... 82 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 82 Caring and Trusting Relationships .................................................................................................. 83 Stimulating and Engaging Activities ............................................................................................... 84 High Expectations ........................................................................................................................... 85 Continuity of Adult Support ............................................................................................................ 85 Opportunities to Contribute ............................................................................................................. 86 Educational Quality of Beacon Activities ....................................................................................... 87 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 91 Chapter Eleven: Beacon Youth Programs: Conclusions and Recommendations .......................... 93 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 93 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................... 95 Chapter Twelve: Adult Participation at the Beacons ....................................................................... 97 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 97 Experiences and Perceptions ........................................................................................................... 99 Participation in Specific Activities ................................................................................................ 100 Findings from Parent Interviews ................................................................................................... 105 Discussion ..................................................................................................................................... 107 Chapter Thirteen: Beacon and Their Host Schools ........................................................................ 108 Overview of the Beacon Schools 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