Program Evaluations: The Resilience Research Centre routinely conducts independent evaluations for programs on a contractual basis. Our research tools provide a good fit for both process and outcome evaluations of support programs targeting children, youth, and families in contexts where they face high levels of risk. We are currently conducting two evaluations of programs in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The Youth Advocate Program

The Youth Advocate Program is a three year gang prevention program funded by the National Crime Prevention Centre of the Canadian Government. Integrating a modified version of Wraparound with community development, the YAP provides intensive professional support to participating young people ages 9-14 and their families. The program aims to reduce community crime by deflecting youth engagement in gang related activities, anti-social and criminal behaviours.

The evaluation of the YAP program involves repeated questionnaire administration. Youth who are referred to the YAP are initially assessed using a modified version of the Pathways to Resilience Youth Measure (see research tools above) on a number of factors related to risk (such as gang involvement and frequency/extent of delinquent behaviour), resilience, and service use patterns. After being admitted to the YAP, youth are further assessed every six months for as long as they are involved with the program. Upon graduation from the program, youth are given an exit assessment, followed by a final assessment six months after exit. Repeated measures allow the evaluation team to build a picture of the youth’s progression through the YAP and highlights any behavioural or attitude changes that may have resulted from the participants' involvement with the program. Quantitative data is combined with individual interviews with a purposeful stratified sample of youth participants, interviews with staff, and group interviews with community and program stakeholders (parents, community committees, administrators). Finally, file reviews and observational data are being used to identify program strengths and challenges.

The Schools Plus Program

The Schools Plus Program, a program run collaboratively by the Department of Education and the Child and Youth Strategy in Nova Scotia, operates within the schools of four pilot sites. The program emerged from recommendation made by the Nunn Commission in 2006 and aims to contribute to the coordination and delivery of services to youth and their families. As with the Youth Advocate Program, Schools Plus provides both intervention and support to participating youth and their families. In addition, Schools Plus works to develop partnerships and promote collaboration among multiple service providers for young people in Nova Scotia.