YouthZone Program Evaluation

Prepared for YouthZone in 2024

This third-party evaluation of YouthZone, a Colorado-based non-profit that aims to redirect youth from the juvenile justice system, was commissioned by the organization to inform its programming for clients.

Analyzing client responses to a survey measuring risks and assets taken between August 2019 and January 2024, the Augenblick, Palaich and Associates (APA) research team examined YouthZone’s influence on positive developmental behaviors of middle- and high-school age youth. Five key risk areas were assessed by the survey:

1. Life Optimism and Social Support;

2. School and Community Engagement;

3. Alcohol Refusal Skills;

4. Marijuana and Other Drug Refusal Skills; and

5. Personal Safety.

The findings suggest that, on average, YouthZone is successfully reducing risks for clients of all types, and youth experienced statistically significant reductions in risks across all five risk areas after participating in YouthZone programming. With few exceptions, risk reduction was similar regardless of age, ethnicity, and poverty status