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The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.
Program Description
Overview | The Thunderbirds Teen Center Program is a multi-functional facility in North Phoenix, Arizona, operated through the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. The Teen Center's mission is to promote the positive self-development of teens, ages 13 to 19, by providing a comprehensive service system during out-of-school time that focuses on the whole individual. The primary goal of the Teen Center program is to provide students with an inventory of skills and positive experiences that will enable them to be more successful at school, and ultimately improve the chances that these students will remain in school. The Teen Center also hopes to have a long-term impact on reducing the incidence of juvenile delinquency within the surrounding community. |
Start Date | 1996 |
Scope | local |
Type | after school, summer/vacation, comprehensive services, outreach programs at middle and high schools |
Location | urban |
Setting | recreation center located five blocks from closest high school (approximately 70% of center participants) and six blocks from two closest middle schools (approximately 20% of center participants) |
Participants | middle school and high school students |
Number of Sites/Grantees | 1 center and outreach programs that reached over 15 schools per year |
Number Served | Over 500 teens visited the center during the study period (1997). Approximately 40% of the teens who visited the center participated in structured programs (vs. drop-in). Outreach programs reach at least an additional 2,000 youth each year. |
Components | Opportunities at the Teen Center are available to teens ages 13 to 19 and include the following structured programs:
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Funding Level | In 1997 the annual operating budget of Thunderbirds Teen Center was $150,000. In 2002 the annual operating budget is $180,000. Approximately 10% of the annual operating budget is obtained from grant funding. |
Funding Sources | COMCARE (a state funded behavioral agency in Arizona which divides moneys into different programs all over the state) and the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. The At Risk Youth division has also received funding from a $0.25 surcharge at each of the cities four golf courses (fifth course was added in 2000). |
Evaluation
Overview | The evaluation examined the effects of program participation on youth in a teen center. More specifically, the researchers were interested in exploring the effects of an organized recreation teen center setting on youths' self-esteem, academic performance, resiliency, and perceived family well-being. The evaluation was conducted during the period of January 1997 to March 1998. |
Evaluator | Dwayne Baker, Michigan State University; John Hultsman, Arizona State University-West; Barry Garst, Research Assistant |
Evaluations Profiled | Thunderbirds Teen Center Program Evaluation |
Evaluations Planned | An evaluation of Project BRAVE that now operates citywide and is still based out of Thunderbirds Teen Center is currently under final review and will be available on Dr. Baker's website at: www.prr.msu.edu/baker/research.htm. |
Report Availability | Baker, D., Hultsman, J., & Garst, B. (1998, March). Thunderbirds Teen Center Program evaluation. [Available on Michigan State University website: www.prr.msu.edu/baker/ThunderBirdReport.pdf (Acrobat file) and Texas A&M University website: rptsweb.tamu.edu/Faculty/Witt/conpubs/thunder.pdf (Acrobat file).] |
Contacts
Evaluation | Dwayne Baker, Ph.D. Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources Michigan State University RM-131 Natural Resources Building East Lansing, MI 48824-1222 Tel: 517-353-5190 ext. 115 Email: dbaker@msu.edu Website: www.prr.msu.edu/baker/main.htm |
John Hultsman, Re.D. Arizona State University West PO Box 37100 Phoenix, AZ 85069-7100 Tel: 602-543-5500 Email: jhultsman@asu.edu |
Program | Manny Tarango, Division Head At Risk Youth Division City of Phoenix Park, Recreation and Library Department 2705 North 15th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85007 Tel: 602-262-7370 Fax: 602-262-7333 Email: manny.tarango@phoenix.gov |
Tim Valencia, M.C. Center Director The Thunderbirds Teen Center 1104 East Grovers, Building A Phoenix, AZ 85022 Tel: 602-495-7323 Fax: 602-534-4515 Email: tim.valencia@phoenix.gov |
Profile Updated | July 14, 2002 |
Evaluation: Thunderbirds Teen Center Program Evaluation
Evaluation Description
Evaluation Purpose | To examine the following questions: Did participation in Thunderbirds Teen Center recreation programs influence participants' perceptions of self, family, and their community and lead to increased self-esteem and increased perceptions of risk-protective factors? Did participation in the Thunderbirds Teen Center after school recreation program influence school performance, e.g., decreased number of absences and tardies and increased school grades? |
Evaluation Design | Quasi-experimental: The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, pre-test/post-test assessments (using standardized instruments) were administered to three participant groups during three sessions (spring, summer, and fall): 1) non-participants (n=180), a comparison group of student cohorts from local middle and high schools; 2) new participants (n=191), who visited the Teen Center for the first time during the study period; and 3) regular participants in structured programs (n=81). Forty-nine percent (48.9%) of the sampled youth returned a parental permission form, as well as completed both pretest and posttest assessments Phase 2 consisted of interviews conducted with three participant groups and one nonparticipant group during the fall of 1997. Teen Center intake data were analyzed to identify three groups of Teen Center participants: 1) drop-out teens who discontinued Teen Center participation, 2) infrequent teens who participated in Teen Center programs/drop-in irregularly, and 3) frequent teens who regularly participated in Teen Center programs/drop-in. A fourth group consisted of nonparticipants from each of four grades (7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th) from local high and middle schools. Teens from each of these groups were randomly selected and given a parental/teen consent form for participation in an interview. A total of 49 teens were identified for possible participation in the interviews. Out of this group, 19 teens agreed to be interviewed and completed the parental/teen consent forms: three drop-out participants, three infrequent participants, six frequent participants, and seven nonparticipants. In addition, demographic data were collected. |
Data Collection Methods | Interviews/Focus Groups: Interviews were conducted to identify: after school program activity participation (i.e., doing homework at home, hanging out with friends, engaging in school and nonschool sports, working, going to the Teen Center, etc.); perceptions of Teen Center; reasons for participation frequency or infrequency; ways to improve community awareness of, and participation in, Teen Center program; and Teen Center/recreation participation benefits. Interviews were conducted in Spring 1998. Secondary Sources/Data Review: Demographic data on participants (Spring 1997 - Fall 1997) were collected through assessments, intake records, and school records. School data included information on grades, attendance, and discipline. Tests/Assessments: Pre-test and post-test assessment instrumentation included: Risk Protective Factors Scale (Witt, Baker & Scott, 1996); exploring participants' risk protective factors (neighborhood resources, knowledge of safe places to play, sense of belonging, caring adults, models for conventional behavior, value on achievement, controls against deviant behavior, and liking/perceived competence); Harter's (1988) Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, looking at aspects of self-esteem (on five subscales: global self-worth, scholastic competence, job competence, social acceptance, and behavioral conduct); Life Events Checklist (adapted from Pryor-Brown & Cohen, 1989), identifying significant stressful life events in teen lives over two time periods (12 months prior to the test and the period of time between pre-test and post-test); and F.A.C.E.S. II (Olson, Bell & Porter, 1985), measuring family functioning (family adaptability and cohesiveness). Assessments were administered in Spring 1997, Summer 1997, and Fall 1997. |
Data Collection Timeframe | Data were collected Spring 1997 - Spring 1998. |
Findings:
Formative/Process Findings
Activity Implementation |
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Program Context/Infrastructure |
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Recruitment/Participation |
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Satisfaction |
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Summative/Outcome Findings
Academic |
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Community Development | For regular participants, Teen Center is functioning as a link between teen and community. However, a portion of the teen population in North Phoenix are unaware of Teen Center opportunities. |
Youth Development |
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