Project Connect

Creative Visions seeks to address high-risk youth in Polk County through a comprehensive approach with several youth centered programs. The primary activities will involve educational and cultural programs. The educational programs meet on a daily basis five days a week. The cultural programs meet once a week year round. For the purposes of this grant, the programs will reach 200 high-risk youth. This project will track the academic progress and delinquency rates among the participants for a period of twelve months. The main goal of this program is to reduce delinquency behaviors in high at-risk youth in Polk County; reduce poor academic performance among Des Moines school students; and reduce the rate of high school drop outs among minority students in Polk County. Educational tutoring will be provided for 40 elementary age students; out of school educational tutoring will be provided for 60 middle and high school students; and community and cultural opportunities will be provided for 100 high-risk children in Polk County. The program will be measured by the number and percent of youth completing program requirements; number and percent of youth exhibiting the desired change in targeted behaviors; school attendance; grade point average (GPA); family relationships; number or percent of youth who offend - short term; and the number or percent of youth who offend - long term. NCA/NCF