Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County

Through the Edward Byrne Memorial Congressionally Recommended Awards program, the Office of Justice Programs helps communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and supports training and technical assistance programs and other efforts that strategically target local needs. This program is authorized to organizations identified in the Text and Joint Explanatory Statement, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County will expand services to youth and their families by opening new clubs in Vero Beach and Fellsmere. The top program priorities will be in the areas of academic success, healthy lifestyles, citizenship, leadership and character development. Data will be collected to measure the following program objectives for the grant period: 1) 80% of Club members will maintain or improve their school grades, attendance and behavior; 2) 85% of Program Participants will reject alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug use and pre-mature sexual activity; 3) 75% of program participants will show an increase in knowledge of physical fitness and how it is an essential part of life and an increased awareness for eating a variety of nutritious foods thereby increasing the likelihood of making healthy and smart food choices and reducing the likelihood of childhood/adult obesity and diabetes, and 4) juvenile crime rates of enrolled 10 -17 year old Club Members will be less than 2% compared to non-Club members which is 4.6%. The program will measure the number of youth who complete the program requirements; percent of youth with whom an evidence-based program/practice was used; and percent of youth who exhibit the desired change in targeted behaviors. In addition, the percent of increase in number of staff trained; number of staff exhibiting increased knowledge of the program area, as a result of project participation; number of program/technical assistance materials developed; and the number of planning activities conducted will also be measured.
NCA/NCF