Strategies for Behavior Change in High Risk

Youth

Why We Are Here

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Mission

Roca’s mission is to disrupt the cycle of incarceration and poverty by helping young people transform their lives.

Theory of Change

Roca’s theory of change is that young people, when re‐engaged through positive and intensive relationships, can change their behaviors and develop life, education, and employment skills to disrupt the cycles of poverty and incarceration.

Target Populations

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High Risk Young Men

• Young Men

• 17-24 Years Old

• Adult or Juvenile Justice Systems involved with risk indicators predictive of long term adult criminal justice system involvement

• No work history

• Not Ready for change; cannot or will not participate in other programs

High Risk Young Mothers

• Young Mother

• 16-24 Years Old

• Multiple systems involvement, history of victimization, history of trauma, and housing instability

• No work history and lack of educational attainment

• Not Ready for change; cannot or will not participate in other programs

Frameworks For Change

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Stages of Change Change is a process that happens over time and in stages that include:

• Pre-Contemplation = NO

• Contemplation = MAYBE

• Planning = GETTING READY

• Action = ACTING DIFFERENTLY

• Sustaining = MORE THAN 51%

As change is often difficult for any of us, Relapse is often part of the process and can happen at any point.

Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT)

• CBT asserts that thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are interconnected

• Thus, CBT skills target thoughts, behaviors, or emotions in order to affect positive change on the other components (e.g., changing distorted thinking may lead to healthier emotions and more effective behaviors).

Roca’s Intervention Model

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Roca’s Intervention Model is a cognitive behavioral intervention that includes 4 strategic components:

Relentless Outreach and Follow-Up

Transformational Relationships Programming Engaged Institutions

• Youth Workers, Educators, and Crew Supervisors

• (All Staff)

• Life Skills • Education / Pre-Voc • Employment

• Formal System Change • Informal System Change

Results Framework

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Post Completion24-48 Months From Enrollment18-24 Months From Enrollment06-18 Months From Enrollment

Increase Engagement with Staff

Increase Program Retention

Increase Life SkillsProgramming Engagement

Increase EducationProgramming Engagement

Increase EmploymentProgramming Engagement

IncreaseEmotional Regulation

IncreaseEducational Gains

IncreaseEmployment Gains

ReduceTechnical Violations

ReduceArrests For New Offenses

IncreaseEmployment Retention

ReduceRe-Incarceration

Rates

Sustain Employment

Short-Term Outcomes Indicators

Increase Program Engagement Rates • % engaged in programming per week/month (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); High School Equivalency (HSE); Pre-Voc; Workforce Readiness; Transitional Employment)

Increase Emotional Regulation • % completed CBT curriculum • % made gains on Difficulties in Emotion Regulation

Scale (DERS) • % made gains on Life Distress Inventory (LDI) Scale

Increase Educational Gains • % attained HSE • % made score gains on HiSET pre and post tests • % attained industry recognized certifications

Increase Employment Gains • % completed Transitional Employment • % completed Workforce Readiness Assessment

Performance Indicators

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Cross-Term Outcomes Indicators

Increase Engagement with Staff • % received contacts per week/month (Youth Worker; Instructor/Educator; Crew Supervisor; Employment Specialist)

Increase Program Retention • % in relationship with more than one staff • % transitioned to Phase 2 on time • % transitioned to Phase 3 on time

Performance Indicators

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Intermediate Outcomes Indicators

Reduce Technical Violations • % in compliance with court/probation appointments

• % in compliance with conditions of probation/parole

Reduce Arrests for New Offenses • % made gains on TCU Criminal Thinking Scale • % sustained gains on DERS and LDI Scale

Increase Employment Retention • % retain employment for 30, 60, 90, 180, and 365 days

Long-Term Outcomes Indicators

Reduce Re-Incarceration Rates • Short-Term Outcomes • Intermediate Outcomes

Sustain Employment • Short-Term Outcomes • Intermediate Outcomes

Stages of Change: Willingness to Engage

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CBT @ Roca

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What we do affects what we think and feel

What we think affects what we do and feel!

What we feel affects what we do and think

Skill 2: Pleasant events Skill 6: Acting in line with values Skill 8: Approach! Don’t Avoid!

Skill 1: Calling out your emotions Skill 3: Emotion/Urge Surfing Skill 4: Being present Skill 5: Acceptance

Skill 7: Flex your Thinking Skill 9: Weigh all your options Skill 10: Setting priorities straight

CBT @ Roca

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Monitoring Progress

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Contact and Programming Standards-Management Level

62%

68%

78%

66%

72%

84%81%

68%

83% 82%

76%81%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

01 JUL 02 AUG 03 SEP 04 OCT 05 NOV 06 DEC 07 JAN 08 FEB 09 MAR 10 APR 11 MAY 12 JUN

69%

Q1

74%

Q2

77%

Q3

80%

Q4

75%

FY

Contact Standards

52%55%

62%

53%

59%64%

61%

51%

63% 64%61% 62%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

01 JUL 02 AUG 03 SEP 04 OCT 05 NOV 06 DEC 07 JAN 08 FEB 09 MAR 10 APR 11 MAY 12 JUN

56%

Q1

59%

Q2

58%

Q3

62%

Q4

59%

FY

Programming Standards

Monitoring Progress

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Contact Standards-Staff Level

Monitoring Progress

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Workforce Readiness-Participant Level

Young Men FY16 Intermediate Outcomes

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Participants Served = 711

• 76% were still actively engaged

Intermediate Employment Outcomes:

Of those enrolled 21 months or longer (324)

• 72% were placed in unsubsidized employment

• 70% were still employed

• 88% retained employment for 90 consecutive days

• 86% retained employment for 180 consecutive days

Intermediate Recidivism Outcomes:

Of those enrolled 24 months or longer (253)

• 98% did not violate conditions of probation

• 93% did not get arrested for a new offense

• 98% did not get incarcerated for a new offense

Currently participating in Random Control Trial Evaluation as part of MA Juvenile Justice Pay for Success Project

• Urban Institute serves as evaluator

• Will look at outcomes for 1,036 young men served

• Assesses impact on incarceration and employment for young men served

Roca engaged in separate outcomes evaluation looking at full model and impact on outcomes

• Conducted by Abt Associates

• Accessing administrative criminal justice data to assess outcomes and impacts based on specific model components

• Looking at which elements make the model successful

Evaluations

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