The Economic Mobility Catalog is a product of Results for America, and comprises a growing repository of evidence-based practices, along with case studies that exemplify successful implementations of these practices. Many of the case studies in the Catalog align with the practices captured in the WWC Standard. .
Overview:
Kansas City has long struggled with high rates of violent crime. Similar to other cities, these high levels of violence disproportionately impacted young people. The growing national increase in mental health symptoms among adolescents was also reflected in Kansas City, with students reporting difficulty navigating challenges at home and in school. With so many students impacted by violence and mental health challenges, support services in Kansas City were strained, leaving young people with unmet needs.
To better meet students' needs, leaders in Kansas City decided to invest in two school-based counseling and mentoring programs, Becoming a Man (BAM) and Working on Womanhood (WOW). These programs provide clinically based counseling and mentoring services to students in group and individual settings.
Connection to the WWC Criterion:
The GreenLight Fund was crucial in identifying and supporting these evidence-based programs (BAM & WOW), demonstrating a sustained process for selecting high-quality initiatives outside the city government. These two programs align with the WWC criteria, Adapting Evidence-Based Programs (EVAL4). The criteria state, “In the past year, your local government has identified and adapted at least two external high-quality, evidence-based programs to improve services for residents and/or make decisions related to citywide key priorities.”
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Identification of External Programs: The case study describes how local leaders, working with the GreenLight Fund, recognized the need for evidence-based community violence prevention and mental health support strategies. Youth Guidance's BAM and WOW programs were externally developed and successfully implemented in Chicago and were identified as effective solutions to address the challenges faced by the youth in Kansas City.
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Adaptation and Implementation: City government leaders, such as Mayor Quinton Lucas and his administration, actively supported the adaptation and implementation of these external programs within the local context. The collaboration involved adapting BAM and WOW to the unique challenges and characteristics of the school system in Kansas City while maintaining the core evidence-based components.
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Sustained Process: The sustained process is evident in the BAM and WOW programs' ongoing expansion and positive results. The initial implementation in the Hickman Mills C-1 School District, subsequent expansions into additional school districts, and the positive reception in the 2021-2022 school year showcase the ongoing commitment to sustaining and scaling these evidence-based programs within the city.
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Outcome Improvement: The case study provides evidence of the positive impact of BAM and WOW through various assessments and measurements, showcasing how external, evidence-based programs were not only identified and adapted but also contributed to measurable improvements in social-emotional skills and mental health outcomes for the youth in Kansas City.
In summary, the collaboration between local leaders, civic organizations, and Youth Guidance reflects a sustained and successful process of identifying and adapting external, evidence-based programs to address key priorities related to community violence prevention and youth mental health in Kansas City. This aligns with the WWC Criterion EVAL4, demonstrating a proactive approach by the local government to enhance services for residents based on high-quality external evidence.
For more information about Kansas City’s counseling and mentoring program, please visit Results For America’s Economic Mobility Catalog for the full case study. There are three staffers from Kansas City, MO, in our Community: @Mason Floyd, @David Reynolds-Gier, and @Alec Sithole
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