Evaluation of the Life Skills Training Program Los Angeles County, California: Final Report

摘要

The Life Skills Training program is similar in many respects to services provided in numerous locations throughout the United States (i.e., classroom- and practicum-based training), though there are special aspects as well. There is an extensive outreach component, and the community college locale enables youths to be served in their communities and also exposed to community college campuses. The program serves a large number of youth and was oversubscribed for service, having nearly twice as many youths referred as program participants. The five-week curriculum consists of ten three-hour classes held twice a week in 19 community colleges throughout Los Angeles County. The program is based on seven state-adopted competency skill areas: education, employment, daily living skills, survival skills, choices and consequences, interpersonal/social skills, and computer/Internet skills. Instructors have the flexibility to design their own classes and activities, invite guest speakers, and use experiential methods to impart information. Pre- and post-test assessments are provided to evaluate whether a youth has made progress in skill acquisition.