Reaching Youth and Families
 
 

Read the Mission Statement and Program Overview

Learn the Historic Background and Program Methodology

Learn about Program Services

Check out our Staff and Training

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Meet our Funders!

Read about Program Accolades and Evaluation Studies
Read about Program Accolades and Evaluation Studies

CHOICE Evaluation

The San Diego CHOICE Program, a project of the June Burnett Institute, has maintained a strong practice to evaluate the effectiveness of delivered services both formally and informally. The faculty of San Diego State University often support and assist with evaluation activities. Process and outcome evaluation findings clearly indicate the success of the CHOICE Program efforts. Listed below are highlights from evaluation reports and outcome data available on the project. Complete evaluation reports are available upon request.

A 1998 comparison study, conducted by Dr. Loring Jones of the SDSU School of Social Work and Dr. Sheldon Zhang of the CSU San Marcos Department of Sociology, found CHOICE participants were more likely than a comparison probationer group to complete the conditions of their probation and not reactivate to the courts. In a six-month follow-up, if youth did re-offend the offense was less severe suggesting that the CHOICE intervention may have prevented an escalation of criminal behavior.

A more recent review of Probation Department recidivism data found that only 27 (5.7%) of the 478 Probation involved youth, serviced by the CHOICE Program from August 1999 to August 2000, had been rearrested for a serious or violence offense.

Current program outcomes for Probation and HHSA referred high-risk youth include:

  • 90% of youth are remaining enrolled in school
  • 72% of youth maintain a regular attendance of 80% or better
  • 86% of youth maintain their home placement
  • 89% of youth did not have a new arrest
  • 73% of youth regularly participated in positive alternative activities
  • 90% of families received referral assistance
  • 71% of youth service close successfully from the program

Excerpts from annual randomized client satisfaction surveys report:

  • 89% of youth report the program has helped them stay away from drugs and alcohol
  • 79% of youth report the program helped them improve their grades
  • 93% of youth report the program helped them stay out of trouble
  • 98% of parents report the program provided a useful service for their family
  • 97% of parents report the program was responsive to their needs as a parent
  • 98% of youth and parents would recommend the program for other families

Management Information Systems

Reporting systems to insure program documentation, accountability and evaluation were incorporated into the program's design and objectives from the start. To accomplish this goal the CHOICE Program has developed a state of the art computerized information system for documenting and maintaining client records, reporting program results and enabling ongoing evaluation activities. The CHOICE Management Information System (MIS) Department manages a statistical database containing over 4,800 variables of computerized information for each client services. Through our standardizing data collection practices and quality assurance approach the MIS Department can regularly produce statistical program reports that summarize services, client progress and all program outcomes. Additionally, the MIS Department is responsible for the technical management and oversight for approximately 100 computer stations, a technical assistance help desk, the CHOICE website, networking of all service sites and staff training. Future technology for the CHOICE MIS Department will include the establishment of an internet-base reporting system and the expansion of research and evaluation capabilities for collected program data.

CHOICE Advisory Board

  • Hon. James R. Milliken, Presiding Judge, Juvenile Court
  • Hon. Maria Arroyo Prokop, Referee, Juvenile Court, Superior Court, Juvenile Division
  • Katie Keach, Sr. Community Representative, Congresswoman Susan Davis's
  • Hon. Ron Roberts, 4th District, County of San Diego Board of Supervisors
  • Manny Delgado Jr., Community Representative
  • Hon. Bill Horn, 5th District, County of San Diego Board of Supervisors
  • Patrick Batten, Legislative Asst.
  • Lesley McClelland, Deputy Chief Probation Officer, County of San Diego Probation Department
  • Pete Judy, Director Juvenile Field Serv., County of San Diego Probation Department
  • Caroline Rodley, Director, Juvenile Division, San Diego Superior Court
  • Joan Stein, Chief, Juvenile Division, Office of the District Attorney
  • Henry Coker, Chief Trial Deputy, Child Advocacy Division, Public Defenders Office
  • Randy Mize, Supervisor, Delinquency Section, Public Defenders Office
  • Elinor Smith, Chair, Juvenile Justice Commission
  • Yolanda Levy, Juvenile Justice Commission
  • Yvonne Campbell, Regional General Manager, Health and Human Services Agency
  • Loretta Middleton, Director, People Services, S.D. County Office of Education
  • Lt. Shawna Selby, Juvenile Administration, San Diego Police Department
  • Juvenal Caporale, Youth Representative
  • Frea Sladek, General Manager, SDSU Foundation
  • John Wedemeyer, Director, June Burnett Institute
  • Benita Page, Director, San Diego CHOICE Program, Assistant Director June Burnett Institute
  • Brook Smith, Assistant Director, San Diego CHOICE Program  

CHOICE: In the News
The June Burnett Institute
San Diego State University Foundation
San Diego State University
 AmeriCorps

 

contact us at: choice@projects.sdsu.edu
San Diego CHOICE Program , 4283 El Cajon Blvd. ,  Suite 115 , San Diego, CA  92105-1254  USA  Phone: 619.594.2525