Evaluation of the Latino Coalitions Reclamando Nuestro Futuro (Reclaiming our Future) Program

摘要

In June 2007, the Department of Labor contracted with the Paul Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan to conduct an evaluation of the Reclamando Nuestro Futuro (Reclaiming our Future or RNF) program run by the Latino Coalition for Faith and Community Initiatives of Bakersfield, California (hereafter called simply the Latino Coalition). In June 2004, the Latino Coalition had been awarded a three-year, $10 million grant by the Department of Labor to fund its RNF program, which was designed to assist at-risk and adjudicated Latino youths to obtain needed education or training, to find employment, and to avoid involvement with the juvenile justice system. The Henry Institutes study was to examine the Latino Coalitions performance measurements, strategy, and findings. This is the final report of this study. Part One describes the key challenges faced by Latino youth, provides additional detail on the Latino Coalition and the RNF program, and explains the study in which we engaged. Part Two describes and evaluates how the Latino Coalition organized and implemented the RNF program. Part Three considers the outcomes experienced by the youths who participated in the RNF program, and Part Four relates our final conclusions and observations.