Effective Components of Community-Based Programming for Justice-Involved Youth and Recidivism Analysis of the GROW Program

There are two goals for this project. The goal for part 1 of this project was to conduct a literature review that gathered information on community-based programs for justice-involved youth, the methods and interventions that were used, and the impacts programs had on recidivism. Particularly, the goal was to identify the most effective components of community-based programs to prevent future recidivism for youth. The literature review also sought to gather information on programs that utilized a positive youth justice and social justice youth development lens. The information found in the literature is intended to help improve Neighborhood House’s programming for justice-involved youth. The goal of the second portion of this report was to determine if the young women who participated in the GROW program at Neighborhood House recidivated at lower rates or on less severe charges than a comparison group of young women on probation within 6 months and 12 months following exit from the program. With the assistance of Ramsey County Community Corrections (RCCC), a comparison group was created and data regarding the participants’ recidivism and profiles were obtained. The information gathered from this analysis is intended to assist Neighborhood House in understanding the overall profiles and offense patterns of the young women they served form 2012- 2016 in comparison to similar young women on probation in Ramsey County, MN.Conducted on behalf of Neighborhood House. Supported by the Kris Nelson Community-Based Research Program, a program of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota

Assessment of the Provision and Use of Emergency Assistance, Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program, and Shelter in Hennepin County

Capstone paper for the fulfillment of the Master of Public Policy degree.Over 1,400 families experience homelessness every night in Hennepin County, and thousands more are at serious risk of entering shelter (Hennepin County Office to End Homelessness, 2017). In order to more effectively target services, county officials would like to understand the demographic characteristics and service use patterns of families at risk of entering shelter. This project aims to provide Hennepin County with more information about who is accessing its services and when they are accessing them; specifically addressing these questions: ● How do families who receive Emergency Assistance (EA), Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP), or enter shelter compare across demographics and service use? ● Of those who received EA, FHPAP, or shelter services, how many also received services (i.e., EA, FHPAP) before and when? ● To what extent do families that come to the county for homelessness prevention or homelessness assistance follow Hennepin County’s expected pathway of services: emergency assistance, community prevention (FHPAP), and shelter? ● Of those who received prevention (i.e., EA, FHPAP), how many also entered shelter within one year? Does Hennepin County target its services (i.e., EA, FHPAP) to those most at risk of entering shelter? Our research team conducted quantitative analysis on household heads who received homelessness prevention and assistance services from the County. Data on household heads included demographics and use of other county-administered government services. Samples were constructed to look backwards and forwards from families’ interactions with homelessness prevention and assistance services to understand the use and effectiveness of these services. Our research found the majority of families accessing preventive services had a female head of household between the ages of 25 to 34 with one to two children. Relative to their populations in Hennepin County, African American families were disproportionately represented in use of preventative services and shelter. American Indian families were disproportionately represented in shelter and underserved by EA and FHPAP

Adult criminality outcomes of former foster care youth: implications for policy and practice

Evidence suggests that children who are involved in the foster care system are more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system as adults. Understanding the many obstacles foster youth encounter before, during, and after their time in the foster care system is important so that measures can be taken by policymakers and practitioners to combat their likelihood of becoming involved in crime. This research examines and compiles current literature on adult criminal outcomes of adult former foster youth and analyzes the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Fostering Connections Act) in terms of how it addresses this issue. The purpose of this research study is to draw conclusive information based on prior research that will assist in modification of policies and programming to help deter foster youth from becoming involved in the criminal justice system as adults.University of Wisconsin--Stout. Research Service