Causal Logic Model of the Palm Beach County School Safety and Student Performance Program

• NCJ Number: 252846
• Author(s): Daniel P. Mears; Andrea N. Montes; Sonja E. Siennick; George B. Pesta; Samantha J. Brown; Nicole L. Collier
• Date Published: December 2018
• Length: 34 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2014-CK-BX-0018
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description
• Award: School/Justice Partnership Project to research the expansion of a school-based intervention to increase school safety while reducing delinquency referrals and improving student outcomes.

Annotation

This report describes a school safety program implemented by the Palm Beach County School District with funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) as part of its initiative on "Developing Knowledge About What Works to Make Schools Safe."

Abstract

The report is based on a process evaluation of the program, which involved discussions with program administrators and staff, along with an examination of program materials. It provides information on program specifics, such as its activities, resources, and staffing. Another focus of this report is the theoretical or causal logic underlying the belief that the program could have specific positive impacts on participants. It is anticipated that this information may assist in interpreting the results of the impact evaluation of the program. The report first profiles the particular youth targeted by the program, i.e., youth who have had contact with the police or the juvenile justice system. This is followed by an overview of the responsibilities of each staff member, including program manager, project specialist, data analyst, case manager, family counselor, and juvenile probation officer. School-based program services and activities are then described. These include meetings with a team of multi-system representatives, an individualized service plan, targeted school-based services, advocacy for students, screening and referral, and a school-based juvenile probation officer for youth on probation. Other major sections of the report address causal logic mechanisms for anticipated youth outcomes; anticipated intermediate youth outcomes; causal logic mechanisms for school outcomes; and anticipated intermediate school outcomes and longer-term school outcomes. 1 figure