How we change lives:

Deepening Impact:  Key Elements for Effective Youth Development

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Key Elements for Effective Youth Development

A Safe, Positive Environment

The Club is a safe haven where members feel physically and emotionally secure at all times.

Fun

The Club facility, staff and program offerings create a welcoming, positive environment that allows members to engage in play, enjoy their play time and be happy and eager to come to the Club.

Supportive Relationships

The Club ensures that every young person feels connected to one or more adults and has friendships with peers.

Opportunities and Expectations

Club staff and programs consistently communicate the expectation that every child has the potential to excel, be productive and succeed at the Club and in life.

Recognition

The Club takes every opportunity to recognize and validate Club members' achievements and accomplishments.

When the five (5) key elements are intentionally infused in a Club's programs and operations, the Club creates a developmentally rich environment that leads to deepening impact.

 

 

2007 Harris Poll Results

Poll conducted on-line and by telephone from November 2006 - March 2007, among 1,014 Boys & Girls Club alumni more than 18 years old.

Club Participation - experience has shown us that frequency of attendance is key to gauging the positive impact of Clubs.  The more young people visit a Club, the more they gain from it.

• 5.2 Years - Total years of Club participation
• 4 Days - Days per week attended Club

On average, alumni were Club members for more than

five year and attended the Club four days a week, a substantial - inded, gereation-changing level - of participation.

Fact:  In addition to frequency of participation, a Club's impact on youth is determined by the extent to which it implements five key elements* (see above) in its operations.

* Deepening Impact Through Quality Youth Development Strategies and Practices, Search Institute, April 2005

A Critical Role

• 60% of alumni said the Club was the only place to go in their neighborhood after school
• 90% said the Club was one of the best things available to them in their community

What Works?

• 57% of alumni said the Club saved their life
• 91% of alumni are satisfied with their adult life

Club Impact - positive impact on each aspect of life

• 86% Abiltiy to work with others
• 85% Sense of belonging
• 84% Outlook or attitude as a youth
• 80% Health and fitness
• 69% Emotional life

Educational Attainment

• 62% "I became more committed to my education"

  72% African-American

  73% Hispanic

  55% White

• 45% "The Club helped me graduate from high school"

  48% African-American

  59% Hispanic

  39% White

• 33% "I am the first person in my family to go to college"

  32% African-American

  36% Hispanic

  31% White

• 28% "I would have dropped out of high school"

  31% African-American

  26% Hispanic

  28% White

Fact:  The average high school dropout rate in America is 33 percent.  For Latino and African-American males, that rate is closer to 50 percent.

(Time Magazine 5/3/07)

Impact on Character Development - The positive effects staff has had on various aspects of alumni lives, including: 

• 85% Knowing right from
• 82% Self-confidence
• 78% Self-esteen as a child or adolescent
• 77% Learning good leadership skills
• 76% Having someone to talk to
• 67% Having goals and aspirations
• 67% Abiltiy to avoid difficulty with the law
• 63% Sucess in high school
• 60% Work life and later career

Civic Engagement: a majority of Club alumni believe it is important to be a good citizen and are actively involved in their community. 

• 92% Helping others is a priority of mine

  60% Strongly Agree

  32% Somewhat Agree

• 81% My participation in the Club helped me develop a sense of responsibility to give back to my community

  48% Stongly Agree

  33% Somewhat Agree

• 75% I am actively involved in my community

  38% Strongly Agree

  37% Somewhat Agree

To read more about the Harris Pole, click the link below for The Boys & Girls Clubs of America web site:

BGCA Website