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Project Involvement

PROGRAM SUMMARY

YMCA Project Involvement is a school-based program for boys and girls in 6th grade through 8th grade who want, and need, small group experience to aid and enhance their personal growth and development. The desired outcome for YMCA Project Involvement is to increase the number and/or percentage of students achieving academic success, and to increase and strengthen developmental assets.
The ultimate end result of participation in the program is a reduction in absenteeism and future drop-out rates, an increase in positive educational and social behaviors, and an increase in positive attitudes and behaviors towards adults and other authority figures.

Small groups of 10-12 children are led by adult leaders who are professionals, or who are working toward degrees in social work, psychology, education, or other related fields. Leaders are given 20+ hours of specific, intensive, YMCA training prior to being assigned to a group of children. Additional training events will continue for staff throughout the school year.

Each group meets one day per week (27 weeks) for 1 to 1½ hours. Arts and crafts, cooking, sports and games, a volunteer project, and 3 additional field trips are used as interactive activities, along with curriculum that focuses on:

School officials refer students to the program, because the children have experienced any of the following descriptions:
1) they are behind in school (mainly due to language problems)
2) they have a poor self-image
3) they lack socialization skills
4) they have never "belonged" to a "group"
5) they lack positive role models
6) they have a series of unstable home happenings (home hopping, addition of step-children, unreliable adults in the home)
7) they have an inability to cope with, or handle conflict
8) they are hyperactive.

Past profiles of participants in the ten-year history of the YMCA Project Involvement in Adams County School Districts #1, 12, 14, and 27J and Jefferson County School District show that the majority of the children come from families with many of the following characteristics: low household incomes, adults in the home having low educational achievement levels, children and parents not engaged in school activities, disruptive home lives, and/or adults in the household are incarcerated, have poor reading abilities, and/or who have low aspirations.

Core Results, Outcomes, and Objectives

1) To increase the number and/or percentage of students achieving academic success.

Outcome:
To increase advancement to the next grade level
Objective:
285 of 300 low income students (95%) at risk of school failure in grades 6th-8th will advance one grade level.

Outcome:
To reduce truancy and absenteeism
Objective:
60% of participants (180) will show a 10% increase in school attendance.

2) To increase and strengthen developmental assets.

Outcome:
To increase commitment to learning
Objective:
70% of participants will report that they are motivated to do well in school. In addition, 70% of participants will report that they care about their school.

Outcome:
To increase positive values
Objective:
80% of participants will report that they are more aware and practice caring, honesty, and responsibility.

Outcome:
To increase social competencies
Objective:
100% of participants will participate in activities concerning cultural competencies and peaceful conflict resolution.

Outcome:
To increase positive identity
Objective:
80% of participants will report that they have developed high self-esteem.

Evaluation

Principals, classroom teachers, and other school officials evaluate YMCA Project Involvement during the program operation, and after the program concludes. Likewise, parents and YMCA staff directly in leadership roles with the children complete evaluations. Evaluation methods used by YMCA staff include pre-, mid-, and post-program surveys, interviews that detail where a student was when the program started, and documentation of what gains the student made through 27 sessions in the program. The extent of evaluation of this program is only during the time the program operates.

For more information contact Linda Montgomery at lmontgomery@denverymca.org.