Para Los Ninos' Youth Center

The purpose of Para Los Niños' Youth Center project is to support, expand, and strengthen the services provided to at-risk youth by Para Los Niños' Youth Center. The Youth Center serves between 50 and 60 low-income, mostly Latino youth ages 11 to 18 living in inner-city Los Angeles neighborhoods. The overarching goal of the Youth Center is to prepare youth for success in higher education and future careers. Major objectives of the project include: 75% of participants will demonstrate an improvement in grade point level during the academic year; 80% of high school seniors will apply to college or vocational schools; and less than 5% of participants will criminally offend or reoffend. Outcomes will be measured by Youth Center staff regularly collecting information and school report cards from participants and entering it into confidential case files and the agency's Efforts to Outcomes database. Activities will include homework assistance, tutoring, college campus visits, arts activities, and family workshops. By providing positive alternatives and increasing family involvement with youth, these services will help youth avoid gang and criminal activity, substance abuse, and pregnancy, and will help them graduate from high school and prepare for college and the workforce. NCA/NCF