Age range

Website: www.pybpdx.org

Mission/Goals: Portland Youth Build incorporates high school education, job readiness training, community leadership and vocational education into their program and encourages students to spend time learning in the classroom, helping community organizations and practicing their skills in the workshop and in the field.

Source(s): www.nyec.org/nla03y

dwdprofiles.pdf; www.pybpdx.org; www.youthbuild.org/

Type of Evaluation: Outcomes Monitoring
 

Note: The evaluation reported here did not include the Portland program.

Objective: To improve the services offered by YouthBuild.

Impact/Outcomes: Key findings from the evaluation (using interviews) revealed that YouthBuild engages an extremely disadvantaged group of youth; that graduates are highly positive about their program experiences; YouthBuild sets high expectations; YouthBuild creates a family-like environment; YouthBuild has caring, skilled, and respectful staff; participants value "tangible results" of construction work; and graduates need more programming after completion of primary YouthBuild programs. Key findings from the evaluations (using surveys) revealed that: 75% of graduates are currently in postsecondary education or in jobs averaging $10/hr; 70% are registered to vote and nearly half have voted; 60% said YouthBuild was an "excellent" program; 91% gave positive evaluations of the program; 73% had received some help from the program since graduating; 60% reported that they would like additional post-program support in jobs/careers and education/training; 92% reported positively on measures of self-perception; 76% are not receiving government support (food stamps, welfare or unemployment benefits); 85% are involved in at least one community activity; and 80% report no negative behaviors (selling marijuana or hard drugs, convicted of felony or spent time in prison).