Program evaluation is an essential component for successful programming, and has been the cornerstone for our continuous growth as an agency and the foundation of our positive impact on youth.

Some of our highlights for FY07 include:

Prevention
1,994 youth from 24 schools received Prevention services including 1,594 from 20 elementary schools. Another 300 youth from four schools attended "Student Development Days," a series of prevention workshops.

BUILD's Community Outreach staff facilitated more than 60 workshops and presentations about gang awareness, bullying, and safety planning. Over 650 individuals participated in BUILD programs in public schools, parent groups, health care providers, university students, businesses, human service agencies, Community Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meetings, and community- and faith-based groups.

Intervention & Rehabilitation
A total of 339 at-risk and gang-affiliated youth were served through school- and community-based interventions dealing with gang-related activities, behavior/disciplinary problems, and/or truancy. 361 in-school mediations and 213 follow-up home visits were conducted. The following were results of these initiatives:

• 58% increase in positive peer relationships and use of out-of-school time
• 44% decrease in school disciplinary incidents
• 46% increase in school attendance
• 58% decrease in aggression
• 47% increase in positive use of out-of-school time
• 34% decrease in school suspensions
• 55% decrease in gang affiliation

In Project BUILD, 216 youth were trained in coping skills before their release from the Detention Center. Also, 221 youth were followed after their release to ensure involvement in positive activities. The Detention Center recidivism rate (rate of return) is between 60% and 70%. The recidivism rate for Project BUILD participants was 28%. Among the 72 Core Group participants, the recidivism rate was 11%.

BUILDing Futures
Education Outreach Specialists worked intensively with 67 seniors, of whom 96% graduated. By comparison, the average graduation rate for our target high schools is 45%. 93% of those seniors have applied and been admitted to a post-secondary institution.

Youth Leadership Development
270 Core Group youth are making progress towards their life plan goals. In Prevention, 99% were promoted to the next grade level. Additionally, in our Intervention program that includes gang affiliated and highly at-risk youth, 78% were promoted to the next grade level.