1. Millie Cortes Capstone Project Master of Public Administration University of Alaska Anchorage April 16, 2011

2. The Problem The Five Promises Purpose of the Study Anchorage’s Promise Formative Analysis Findings Challenges Conclusions Observations 2

3. America is not being sufficiently attentive to the positive development of our children and youth. ASD reported a dropout rate of 3.9 percent, representing 895 dropouts out of 22,772 students enrolled in grades 7-12. Dropouts are a drain on the economies of each state and the nation. The average annual income for high school dropouts is $19,169, compared to $28,645 for high school graduates. 3

4. Caring Adults - Protecting young people from negative behaviors Safe Places - Safe at home, school, & their community Healthy Start - Adequate nutrition, exercise, and health care Effective Education - Motivating youth at school Opportunity to Help Others – Develop volunteers programs 4

5. Determine the Promises not being achieved Recommend program improvements 5

6. Mobilizes the Anchorage community to build character and competence of its children and youth by fulfilling the America’s Promise Alliance Five Promises. Kids Day Event Partnerships with local youth programs Community Outreach Youth Recruiting 6

7. Provide staff useful information to improve programs and monitor progress Provide data which if collected early can help re-channel time, money, and resources into more productive directions Data Collection Surveys Interviews Literature Review Benchmarks Program models 7

8. Promise# IndicatorsIndicators Caring Adults4 Caring relationships with parents/primary caregivers Caring relationship with extended family adults Caring relationships with adults at school Caring relationships with adults in the community and formal mentors Safe Places5 Safe family Safe school Safe neighborhood and community Safe outdoor play spaces reframed from bullies Frequency participates in high-quality structures activities Healthy Start6 Regular checkups and health insurance Good nutrition Exercises at least three times a week Restful sleep (recommended at least six times a week) Reframe from smoking and positive role models Emotional safety Effective Education5 School culture emphasizes academic achievement and challenge Learning to use technology Reading Parents involvement with education and achievement Parents involvement in career development Opportunities to Help Others 5 Parents as role model of volunteering Peers models of volunteering Parent civic engagement Family involvement about current events Youth has been given volunteering roles in schools and the community 8

9. Partners’ understanding of the Five Promises is 3.09, constituting to a positive rating. 9

10. The promise that overall received the highest rating, 2.56, is Safe Places. 90% agreed with each of the statements under this promise. 10

11. Caring Adults. 85.6% of respondents agreed with the statements under this promise Caring relationship with extended family adults – 3.00 Effective Education Learning to use technology – 1.52 33.4% agreed with the indicators under this promise Healthy Nutrition 41.1% of respondents agreed with the statement under this promise 58.9% to a slight extent agreed or did not agreed with these indicators Opportunities to Help Others 26.3% of respondents agreed with the statements under this promise 73.7% to a slight extent agreed or did not agreed with these indicators 11

12. #Mean Value Statement 12.22 My organization awareness have increase on strengthening the community due Anchorage’s Promise Five Promises 22.18 My organization is doing things differently to support the youth due to Anchorage’s Promise Five Promises 31.75 My organization shares the success of the Five Promises with others 42.12 My organization is getting more involve in the community due to Anchorage’s Promise 51.96 Anchorage’s Promise Five Promises have improved the quality of my program 61.86 My organization is inclined to make changes in the community due to Anchorage’s Promise Five Promises 73.63My organization values Anchorage’s Promise Kids Day Event 82.93 My organization values Anchorage’s Promise youth recruiting support & staff 12

13. Anchorage’s Promise is meeting two of the Five Promises’ benchmarks. Survey results demonstrate partners may need a better understanding of the national benchmarks. Partner’s program activities may need to be revamped to better meet the needs of the youth. Anchorage’s Promise needs better tools for program evaluation. 13

14. Anchorage’s Promise should: Expand the understanding of the Five Promises and the 40 Developmental Assets among its partners. Work together with the partners to ensure long- term relationships. Create formal, written partnerships agreements. Develop training modules for the partners. Create an internal formative evaluation. 14

15. Millie Cortes Capstone Project Master of Public Administration University of Alaska Anchorage April 16, 2011