615 2nd Ave, Ste 275, Seattle, WA 98104
206.696.7503 | www.ccyj.org
PROMOTING POSITIVE OUTCOMES
Program Evaluation
Partnering with TeamChild and the Avanza program, the Center for Children & Youth Justice (CCYJ)
expanded school engagement and school reentry services for Latino youth in Benton, Franklin and
King Counties through a project called Promoting Positive Outcomes. Promoting Positive Outcomes
combines innovative thinking and research based interventions with the goal of achieving replicable
and lasting change for Latino youth in the juvenile justice system or at risk of entering the juvenile
justice system. Promoting Positive Outcomes links youth to education related interventions to
reconnect and reengage youth with school and reduce dropout and juvenile justice involvement.
TeamChild is a nationally recognized nonprofit civil legal aid organization serving young people
involved in or at high risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system. Promoting Positive Outcomes
expanded the capacity of TeamChild's Yakima office to provide civil legal advocacy and community
education in Benton-Franklin Counties. The primary focus of referrals and advocacy was Latino youth
who were out of school or experiencing significant difficulty accessing appropriate educational
services. The students served by TeamChild presented multiple risk factors for school failure and
many had already dropped out. The stories of the youth served illustrate how difficult it can be to
reverse course once a student has started down the path towards dropping out. TeamChild's advocacy
exposed policies and practices of school districts that pushed students out of school. In response,
TeamChild assisted youth to access appropriate educational services and collateral supports--medical
treatment, housing, and other social services--so youth were better equipped to reengage in school.
The TeamChild expansion confirmed the need for legal advocacy and community education around
individual and systemic barriers to school success in Benton-Franklin Counties.
The Avanza program is a collaborative effort between CCYJ, Highline Public Schools, Puget Sound
Educational Service District, King County Superior Court Juvenile Court Services, and King County
Work Training. The primary focus of referrals and advocacy is Latino youth ages 14-16 who are atrisk of dropping out and/or not attending school regularly. The Avanza Program offers participating
students comprehensive year-round services including culturally enhanced case management,
strength based educational and vocational assessments, individualized student-driven educational and
vocational planning, credit enhancement/retrieval and paid work experience. By intervening early,
providing a caring adult and helping youth understand the relevance of academic achievement to
future work and career success, the Avanza program supports youth to reengage in school and remain
crime free. Avanza programming helps youth build a solid foundation for continued academic
achievement and employment skill development and stay on the path to high school graduation. The
success students achieve while enrolled indicates the Avanza program model is worthy of future study
to determine the long term effectiveness of program services.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
TeamChild Highlights
Only 15 % of youth were in school at the time of
referral. At the conclusion of TeamChild services, at
least 66% of students were back in school.
Youth referred to TeamChild faced systemic
barriers to educational success including:
enrollment delays and refusals, inadequate
identification or accommodation of special
education needs, a general lack of knowledge about
school rights, absences aggravated by juvenile court
involvement, district practices that prevented
recovery of credit deficits, and exclusion due to non
attendance or discipline problems.
TeamChild provided legal services, representation
or information that positively impacted the
education of 98% of clients.
Two thirds of youth had improved compliance with
probation/parole conditions after receiving
services from TeamChild.
59 youth participated in the Avanza
program.
Average age range was 14-16 years.
Race/ethnicity: 95% identified as
Hispanic/Latino or multiracial.
Language: 33% of students spoke English
as a second language.
Poverty: 90% were eligible to receive free
or reduced lunch.
Family Status: 20% were pregnant or
parenting.
Juvenile Justice: 33% had prior juvenile
justice involvement.
Promoting Positive Outcomes
92 youth received services from TeamChild
including active representation, brief legal
services or advice and referral.
Average age range was 14 – 17 years.
Juvenile justice: 95% had current or prior
juvenile justice involvement at referral.
Race/ethnicity:
60% Hispanic/Latino
30% Caucasian/White
5% African American/Black
5% Other
Poverty: 95% were eligible to receive free
or reduced lunch.
TeamChild provided services that positively
impacted the juvenile justice issues of 80% of
clients served.
AVANZA
OVERVIEW OF YOUTH SE RVED
TEAMCHILD
OVERVIEW OF YOUTH SE RVED
Health & Disability: 50% were known or
suspected to be dealing with mental health,
physical health or substance abuse issues.
25% received special education services.
Avanza Highlights
Participating students faced multiple barriers to
school success including absences, core course
failure, poverty, juvenile justice involvement,
homelessness, speaking English as a second
language and pregnancy or parenthood.
While enrolled, Avanza students earned
better grades, passed more classes and were
awarded more academic credit than in the
previous academic year.
Only eight percent of students dropped out of
school while enrolled in Avanza.
Of the 48 students who participated in
program services in years one and two, 69%
advanced the most recent grade and earned
enough credits to be on track to graduate.
Participating students had no new juvenile
justice involvement while enrolled in Avanza.
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