WITHDRAWN: The Impact of Identity-Based Wraparound Intervention on High Risk and Gang Involved Immigrant Youth

Background:

The Real Me program, an academic-community partnership, seeks to prevent and/or to reduce criminal gang involvement by immigrant youth (aged 12 to 24). It is designed to respond the crime patterns in Calgary, including increased cultural diversity in gang membership and a disproportionate level of gang involvement from immigrant youth living in impoverished communities.  The program uses High-Fidelity Wraparound, a collaborative approach that facilitates the development a network of natural support and professional services, to help youth address their complex needs. It also incorporates programming components that aim to strengthen identities. 

The objective of this study is to assess the immediate and long-term impact of Real Me intervention on program participants.  The intended immediate outcomes include: improved social and emotional wellbeing; sense of ethnic identity; employment outcomes, education outcomes, family functioning; increased positive influences, participation in pro-social activities; decreased negative influences, alcohol and drug use. The intended long-term outcomes include: reduced criminal involvement, disengagement from gangs, and high risk youth not becoming gang involved.

Methods

The quasi-experimental evaluation design is used to analyze data from the study group (Real Me participants, N=113) and two comparison groups (comparison group 1- young people who were eligible to participate and declined to participate, N=42; comparison group 2- a sample of youth from the police data system matched with the Real Me participants on demographic factors, N=27).  For Real Me participants, the research team uses a variety of measurement instruments and data sources, including: periodic questionnaire completed at intake, six-month intervals, and six month’s post participation, service logs, and criminal charge data.  Non-parametric Wilcoxon Rank Sum is conducted to determine differences between the study group and the comparison groups.

Results

The results indicate positive immediate and long-term outcomes among Real Me participants. With respect to immediate outcomes, Real Me participants have demonstrated statistically significant improvements in self-esteem, delinquent attitudes, school behaviour, positive influences, ethnic identity, and family functioning. Compared to those who declined to participate in the program, Real Me participants have shown significant positive results in the following areas: criminal involvement score, anger/frustration, attitudes towards conflict, delinquent attitudes, peer influences, positive adult role model and use of leisure time.  With respect to long-term outcomes, the results demonstrate that Real Me participants have shown reduced criminal involvement, that those with a history of gang membership have disengaged from gang activity, and that those who are at risk of gang involvement do not become gang involved.

Conclusion

The evaluation study provides empirical evidence of the effectiveness of High-Fidelity Wraparound intervention and culturally responsive programming in working with high risk and gang involved immigrant youth. The results support youth-centered intervention approaches that recognize multiple, complex needs facing disadvantaged youth, and mobilize resources to provide individualized, comprehensive services and support, including positive mentorship, academic support, employment and life skills support, pro-social activities, support for family functioning, counseling and advocacy. The results also lend support for policies and funding investments that promote crime prevention, culturally responsive programming and collaborative partnership in working with vulnerable youth.