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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Iris J Meltzer, MA, Center for Adolescent Health, Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron, One Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308, (330)543-8914, imeltzer@chmca.org, Peter J Leahy, PhD, Public Administration and Urban Studies, University of Akron, Polsky Bldg. 261A, Akron, OH 44325, and Kathleen E Petsko, MPA, research assistant, 360 Castle Blvd, Akron, OH 44313.
An eleven-year-old youth development program was evaluated using a structured interview. One hundred forty-three of the past program participants had reached the age of majority (18). Of these, 82 were located and interviewed. Participants were divided into three groups based upon their past participation. Group 1 includes those who officially graduated from the program; Group 2 includes those who were frequent attenders; Group 3 includes those who attended infrequently. Dependent variables include employment, pregnancy and births, school completion, delinquency or criminal behavior and incarceration, and alcohol and drug use. Dependent variables include age and gender. Frequency distributions of all three groups were created and the dichotomous dependent variables tested by group using Chi Square analysis. Interval level dependent variables were tested by group using analysis of variance. Program planners hypothesized that as the goal of youth development programs is a transition to healthy adulthood, the more extensive a young person participation in the program, the better the adult outcomes realized. Preliminary data suggests trends in the desired direction.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescents, Behavioral Research
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.