Achievement Report

Reduced Recidivism, Doing Better in School

and Employment

The recently completed Outcomes Study conducted by the University of Texas Dallas using information supplied by the Dallas County Juvenile Department, the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Workforce Commission clearly shows that our programs are working and changing the lives of the young men we work with. They young men who graduated from at least one of our programs do not get back in trouble nearly as often, do better in Math and Reading, and most have found employment after one year of release back into the community.

Click here to read the UTD Outcomes Study published in May of 2011

Horticulture Program

Once a quarter our horticulture instructor teaches a 3-hour Horticulture class to all the arrivals since the last class.
   We now have a YVRD gardener who instructs the young men in organic sustainable gardening using the Growing Power techniques. This program grows organic vegetables and soon other food, such as Tilapia in the unused swimming pool. What is grown is used for the culinary program, for the garden workers to share with their families, and to be sold to support these programs and other food purchases.
   Established in February of 2008. To date there have been 341 young men attend the course from the Master Gardeners, 28 Staff have been trained.

Nutrition/Culinary Arts Program

  Established in January of 2008, this class runs 3 semesters a year with up to 16 students per class. Overall this program is doing really well. We have graduated 156 young men. The young men's knowledge of culinary and nutrition-related topics greatly increased, as shown by their pre and post test scores. Many young men have gotten jobs as a direct result of completing these classes and being able to add this to their resume.

Certified Food Handler Program

  Established in March of 2008, this class is made up of the Nutrition and Culinary Arts class graduates who are showing strong interest in the Food Industry. 116 young men who completed this class so far have passed the test and received their Dallas Food Handler License. The young men who have returned home and have their Food Handler License (photo id) are successfully finding jobs in food establishments and at a higher than normal starting salary.

Scholarship Programs

  Currently several young men are attending community college with financial aid from Youth Village Resources. We have also helped several find funding and grants that allow them to not pay any tuition. So far in 2011, with the help of YVR, 14 young men have completed their GED.

Computer Lab Programs

  Established in June of 2008, this class runs 3 times a year at theYouth Village. We have 15 students with 15 desktop computers in our lab. In June of 2010 we started our first Medlock Computer lab using 10 new Dell lap tops. We just expanded both programs to running 4 times a year.

  To date we have graduated 145 young men from our Computer program. They have all received A's, B's or C's (two D's) in the El Centro College course . They end up with the ability to pass an employer's computer test. They know Microsoft WORD, EXCEL, Office and can do a power point presentation.

Dog Training Program

  The P.R.E.P dog-training program was re-started in September of 2009. The Program now has twelve 3-week sessions a year. To date we have graduated 146 young men with certificates from Canine Dimensions. The certificates state their skills in dog training and temperament testing. Additionally, this class has resulted in saving the lives of 71 dogs all of which have been adopted or are in foster homes.

Career Management, Development and Transition

  This program was established in May 2009 and to date 58 young men have received certification, completed resumes and career assessments.

Financial Literacy

  Established in June of 2009, this class is made up of the graduates from the Career class. It is taught by volunteers from the University of Texas at Dallas. The SIFE (Students Interested in Free Enterprise) students created the curriculum to teach the basics of personal money management. To date 47 young men have completed the course.