Outcomes
Since we began offering programming to at-risk youth in 2010, we’ve been tracking outcomes to ensure that what we were doing was having a beneficial effect. Youth at-risk of disconnection struggle in a number of areas, but we have decided to focus on some of the most critical factors that put youth at high risk of disconnection: high school graduation or acquisition of a G.E.D., pursuit of post-secondary education or vocational training, employment and the capacity to manage independent living. Our programming addresses these critical factors with knowledge and skills-based training in areas like career planning, personal presentation, money management, and self-discipline and leadership.
We provide direct service in the form of classes taught by our staff and indirect service in the form of print resources and staff training for educators, parents, mentors, and youth program staff. While we know we have had a positive impact through our indirect service and the distribution of thousands of Smart Transitions Guides, that impact is difficult to quantify so for tracking purposes we focus on specific outcomes from youth we have trained directly.
We are proud of our impact to date. As of July, 2022, we have served over 8,486 youth across Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Franklin and Southampton County, and Isle of Wight County) with direct service and the outcomes highlighted to the right.
In addition, we have distributed thousands of print guides and workbooks and trained youth program staff, guidance counselors, educators, and mentors in how to use them to engage youth in critical “Transition Conversations.”
1209 Youth Served with Direct Programming
8,486 Youth Served since 2010
Youth completed Life-Work
Portfolio Course
Youth with no intervention
- 90%
- 75%
High school
diploma 90%
- 61%
- 6%
Pursuing post-secondary education or skills training 61%
- 78%
- 16%