Graduates of Fed. Youth Program Expect to Live 30 Years Longer; Research Reveals Positive Long-term Impact of YouthBuild Program 6/22/2004
From: Charlotte Chung, 617-741-1274, or cchung@youthbuild.org, or Maria Vugrin, 617-741-1239, or mvugrin@youthbuild.org, Both of YouthBuild USA; Web: http://www.youthbuild.org SOMERVILLE, Mass., June 22 -- Young people who grow up in low-income communities and leave high school without a diploma are often unemployed and may feel dejected about their future prospects. In the United States there are 2.4 million 16- to 24-year-old low-income youth out of school and out of work- often called "disconnected" youth-who are at risk of long-term dependency, unemployment, homelessness or other serious problems. A study of 900 graduates of YouthBuild, a youth and community development program funded primarily by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, found that disconnected young people who completed YouthBuild became optimistic about their future prospects and were doing well by many measures. The study was conducted by researchers at Brandeis and Temple Universities. In YouthBuild programs young people ages 16 to 24 work toward their GED or high school diploma while learning job skills through building affordable homes for low-income and homeless people in their communities. YouthBuild creates a small supportive learning community with a positive peer group. There are 200 YouthBuild programs in 44 states, in both urban and rural communities. Many YouthBuild students have had previous experience with foster care, juvenile justice, welfare or homelessness. Life After YouthBuild: 900 Graduates Reflect on Their Lives, Dreams and Experiences, is a two-pronged national research project that examines the long-term successes and challenges of YouthBuild graduates. Researchers surveyed nearly 900 graduates from more than 60 local YouthBuild programs and conducted in- depth interviews with a cross section of 57 randomly selected graduates from eight local programs. Key findings include: -- 65 percent of graduates believe they will live an average of 32 years longer than they expected to live before joining YouthBuild -- 75 percent are currently either in post secondary education or in jobs averaging $10 per hour -- 26 percent went to college -- 76 percent are receiving none of three government supports (food stamps, welfare or unemployment benefits) -- 68 percent are registered to vote and 47 percent have voted -- 92 percent of graduates voiced positive emotions, a solid self-image and optimism about the future -- 91 percent considered their experience at YouthBuild to be "excellent" or "good" "What struck me about these YouthBuild graduates was how much hope they had for the future now as compared to when they first entered the program," said Andrew Hahn, one of the researchers and a professor at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management. "This study shows that with the right supports, young people can overcome amazing obstacles and become fully contributing members of their communities. It also shows the critical importance of strengthening programs by listening to the young people who have completed them as they are the real experts." A full copy and executive summary of Life After YouthBuild: 900 Graduates Reflect on Their Lives, Dreams and Experiences are available at http://www.youthbuild.org. --- About YouthBuild USA, http://www.youthbuild.org Founded in 1990, YouthBuild USA is a national nonprofit organization that supports a nationwide network of 200 local YouthBuild programs. In YouthBuild programs, unemployed and undereducated young people ages 16-24 work toward their GED or high school diploma while learning construction skills by building affordable housing for homeless and low-income people. Strong emphasis is placed on leadership development, community service and the creation of a positive mini-community of adults and youth committed to success. Since 1994, more than 40,000 young people have helped rebuild their communities, transform their lives and create more than 12,000 units of affordable housing. YouthBuild USA was recognized in 2002 by Worth magazine as one of the top 100 nonprofits in the United States. |