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National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The mission of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program is to intervene in the lives of 16-18 year old high-school dropouts nationwide and provide them with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed.

This community-based program is conducted in three phases. In the first phase, Pre-ChalleNGe, candidates participate in a physically and psychologically demanding assessment and orientation period during which they are introduced to the program's rules and expectations.

Candidates who complete the first phase are enrolled into the program as "cadets" and begin the Residential Phase which lasts for 20-weeks. During this second phase, cadets participate in various activities that are designed to focus around eight core youth development components: Leadership/Followership, Responsible Citizenship, Service to Community, Life-Coping Skills, Physical Fitness, Health and Hygiene, Job Skills, and Academic Excellence. Finally, cadets who successfully complete the second phase move into a one-year Postresidential Phase which is a structured mentoring program.

Goal / Mission

The mission of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program is to intervene in the lives of high-school dropouts and provide them with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed.

Impact

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program resulted in participants succeeding in several aspects of their lives compared to their control group counterparts. Program participants were more likely to have a GED certificate, more likely to have started college, and more likely to be working.

Results / Accomplishments

An evaluation study interviewed cadets three years after they completed the program and compared them with a control group. The study found that 72% of those in the ChalleNGe program had received their GEDs compared with only 56% of the control group, a difference significant at p<0.0001. In addition, 58% of the cadets were working while only 51% of the controls were working (p<0.015). However, there were no clear differences between the two groups in terms of delinquency, civic engagement, health, sexual activity, and substance abuse.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
National Guard Youth Foundation
Primary Contact
Megan Millenky
MDRC
19th Floor
16 East 34 Street
New York, NY
10016-4326
(212) 532-3200
https://www.mdrc.org/
Topics
Education
Health / Wellness & Lifestyle
Organization(s)
National Guard Youth Foundation
Source
MDRC
Date of publication
Jun 2011
Date of implementation
2005
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Teens
Michigan Health Improvement Alliance