Guide to Effective Programs
for Children and Youth

CASASTART (Formerly Children At Risk)

OVERVIEW

CASASTART is a youth development program for middle school students. It employed a community-wide approach and a variety of tactics (e.g., case management, policing, financial incentives) to promote positive youth development. The program lowered participants' chances of repeating a grade, but did not raise participants grades, compared to students in the control group.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: Middle school students living in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

The program components were many and varied as the program used a whole-community approach involving school services, community and social services, and out-of-school activities. For instance, the program provided community-enhanced policing, intensive case management, juvenile justice intervention, family services, afterschool and summer program activities, tutoring and homework educational services, mentoring, and monetary incentives.

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Harrell, A., Cavanaugh, S., & Sridharan, S. (1999). Evaluation of the Children at Risk Program: Results 1 year after the end of the program. Research in brief. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.

Evaluated population: Middle school students living in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Results: An experimental evaluation showed that program participants did not have higher grades than control group youth. However, the program did have a positive effect on adolescents' achievement, with those attending the CASASTART program less likely to repeat a grade in school than control group youth (Harrell, Cavanaugh, & Sridharan, 1999).

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

Link to program curriculum: http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/templates/AboutCASA.aspx?articleid=203&zoneid=26 

References:

Harrell, A., Cavanaugh, S., & Sridharan, S. (1999). Evaluation of the Children at Risk Program: Results 1 year after the end of the program. Research in brief. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.

Program also discussed in the following Child Trends publication(s):

Redd, Z., Brooks, J., & McGarvey, A. (2002). Educating America 's youth: What makes a difference (Research brief). Washington , DC : Child Trends.

Redd, Z., Brooks, J., & McGarvey, A. (2001). Background for community-level work on educational adjustment in adolescence: Reviewing the literature on contributing factors. Washington, DC: Child Trends.

SUMMARY & CATEGORIZATION

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

Evaluated participant ages: middle school students / Program age ranges in the Guide: 12-14

Program components: mentoring/tutoring, school-based, clinic/provider-based, community/media

Measured outcomes: education/cognitive

 

Program information last updated 3/14/07

   © Child Trends 2003