Evaluation of the Peaceful Connections Violence Prevention Program: Local Evaluation Report

The Peaceful Connections program, implemented by the Boys & Girls Clubs (BGC) of Santa Monica and eight partner Clubs, was launched using a California grant to address youth violence in seven cities disproportionately affected by violence in Los Angeles County. The targeted communities also experience systemic barriers related to poverty, academic underachievement, and justice system involvement. The overarching purpose of Peaceful Connections was to leverage Club-based, evidence-informed interventions, including group and individualized services, to reduce risk factors for youth violence, strengthen protective factors, and improve educational and career-readiness outcomes for youth who are most at risk. The program built on existing group-based programming available through BGC, which focuses on social-emotional, leadership, and career skills, and added a case management component for higher-risk youth. In this study, the authors share their findings from a process and outcome evaluation of the Peaceful Connections program, and they include recommendations for how BGC could improve both the program and evaluation efforts going forward.