Nevada Youth Alliance: Outreach Worker Program

Since its inception in 2006, the Outreach Worker Program of Nevada Youth Alliance has focused on serving high-risk youth 12-18 years old. The program provides mentorship and resources to youth who have records of formal reprimands for violent behavior and bullying at school, those who have been involved in gangs, and those with a criminal history. The program subcontracts outreach workers from community organizations to serve the youth one hour per week for a period of 12 months. The program also provides referrals to other support programs and services in the community. Overall, the program fosters self-discipline, skill development, goal-setting, and leadership skills among youth.

The program was funded by the Nevada Office of Criminal Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice and other private donors.

The purpose of the program is to keep youth out of crime and to provide them with opportunities for a more fulfilling life.

In 2.5 years, the program enrolled 85 high-risk youth. The program's accomplishments include no new arrests among youth who completed the program, reduction in gang involvement, regular school attendance, improved family relations, successful completion of probation, and improved self-esteem and employment obtainment.

An evaluation of the program conducted in the 2009-2010 fiscal year showed that youth who spent an average of one hour a week with a mentor (or outreach worker) were more likely to complete the program (p=0.05). Overall, 62.4% of participants completed the program. Further internal evaluations of the program are currently being conducted.