A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Los Angeles County Office of Education, Division of Alternative Education
Los Angeles Conservative Corps
Madrinas/Padrinos Program
University of Southern California
California State University Los Angeles
East Los Angeles Community College
Roybal Community Health Center
Santa Marta Hospital
Maravilla Housing Project/Parent Advisory Council
Youth Leadership Council
Los Angeles County Office of Probation
Los Angeles Sheriffs
Soledad Enrichment Action
Department of Public Social Services
District Attorney's Office
Gangs For Peace
Building Up L.A.
Booth Memorial Salvation Army

What is the goal of the project?

To provide integrated services to middle and high school age youth who are highly at risk of gang activity and/or substance/alcohol abuse.

Who participates in the project?

Largely Latino urban community in east Los Angeles

What services are provided?

• Academic services
  
• Counseling services
  
• Gang risk reduction
  
• Drug prevention and treatment
  
• Job training
  
• Leadership training
  
• Cultural pride and self-esteem
  
• Conflict resolution and mediation
  
• Arts program

How are collaborators evaluating their success?

Quantitative data analysis from--
• student information including exit date, test scores, grades, promotion rates, and graduation rates
  
• formal survey information on drug/substance abuse and gang activity
  
• demographic information

  Qualitative data analysis from--

• observations
  
• interviews of teachers, counselors, probation officers, parents
  
• review of related documents

What are the collaborators learning?

Quantitative:
• Twice as many boys as girls, ranging from 13-18 years old
  
• Majority from Los Angeles with others from Mexico, Central America, and Vietnam
  
• 50 percent of students come from single parent homes
  
• Approximately two-thirds of the students speak a language other English as primary language in the home.
  
• Twice as many students attended English-only elementary programs than those who were in a bilingual classroom.
  
• 75 percent of the students have some family member affiliated with gangs at some point; 50 percent indicate there is current involvement.
  
• Gang involvement lasts from less than three months to more than three years.

  Qualitative:

• There exists a range of highly effective to moderately effective learning and instruction across academic programs.
  
• There is a varying range of active student engagement in academic and non-academic activities
  
• "Traditional paradigms" in service delivery (isolation vs collaboration) and under girding philosophical orientation across program components is questioned.
  
• In a culture of respect, acceptance, and responsibility, students are experiencing some type of success.

Contact Person

Lillian Vega Castaneda
Program Evaluator/Associate Professor
California State University San Marcos
San Marcos, California
(619) 750-4282 (Phone)
(619) 750-4282 (Fax)
e-mail: lillian_castaneda@csusm.edu

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