Making Connections was the Annie E. Casey Foundation's signature place-based, community-change initiative of the 2000s. It sought to build on previous work and launch an effort focused firmly on the framework of family strengthening. The Foundation started Making Connections in 22 places, focusing eventually on first 10, then seven sites. It…

These "Stories From the Field" describe five Wallace-funded programs working to expand learning and enrichment for disadvantaged children, so they can benefit from the types of opportunities their wealthier counterparts have access to, from homework help to swimming classes. The report details each program's approach, successes and…

The Youth Handgun Violence Prevention Project (YHVPP) was conducted in the Denver Metropolitan Area from July 1999 to June 2002. Several factors associated with youth attitudes and behaviors regarding handguns were identified and verified empirically. Interventions were designed to modify these factors and to evaluate their effectiveness in…

Organizational capacity refers to the ability of nonprofit organizations to fulfill their missions in an effective manner. Through the JVA Consulting Colorado Compassion Initiative, a comprehensive, capacity-building program was developed and provided for faith- and community-based organizations. This study examined faith-based organizations'…

This report provides a qualitative evaluation of Colorado's 56 Learn and Serve programs. It contains descriptions of 39 K-12 school-based programs and 17 community-based programs funded during the 1997-98 grant cycle. The profiles were written by the program directors, and each profile provides an overview of the program and includes general…

THIS REPORT IS AN EVALUATION OF A SCHOOL-COMMUNITY PROJECT ESTABLISHED IN 1953 (1) TO GUIDE THE SPANISH-NAMED POPULATION IN DENVER IN DEVELOPING SELF-HELP AND COMMUNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND TO SERVE AS A CONSULTANT TO CITY AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL IN PROMOTING INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION. DATA WERE GATHERED BY OPINIONNAIRES,…

A Colorado school district has evolved a plan for continuous updating of curriculum that is broad in scope, involves the external environment, and integrates the efforts of citizens and educators. The first step of the external audit process involves the development of goals and an overview of a state-of-the-art program by the program manager and…