Participatory evaluation of a community youth violence prevention initiative

Background: The Street Outreach Worker (SOW) Program, a tertiary violence prevention initiative operated by a community-based organization in New Haven, CT, is designed to reduce gun violence by connecting at-risk youth with adults previously involved in violence but now committed to mentoring youth. A community-academic partnership was formed to conduct a participatory evaluation of this program.

Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with a sample of youth participants, SOWs and program administrators. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and synthesized into common themes using the constant comparative method of qualitative analysis.

Results: A unifying theme was that both youth and SOWs described their relationship as a proxy family: both attribute recruitment and engagement to the positive role modeling and relationships between the youth and the SOWs. A second theme is the role of cultural, job-readiness, youth development, and recreational activities in helping youth avoid violence as well as bringing together youth from territorial neighborhoods. A third theme is that while the exposure to pro-social alternatives prevents gun violence, employment opportunities are necessary to sustain anti-violent behavior.

Conclusions: There is perceived value in human capital relationships, and prosocial activities for preventing youth violence. Youth, SOWs and administrators perceive that job placement and funding for a community recreational center will be paramount to maintaining gains in violence reduction. To ensure success of SOW programs, the importance of targeting resources to sustain the relationships between mentors and youth and promote economic opportunities should not be underestimated.