This photo captures one of my favorite Team Kids’ moments. Dr. Julie Tapp is at our Board Retreat sharing our newly created Team Kids Logic Model, along with initial results from the evaluation report of our pre/post evaluation from our Torrance expansion.
Julie Tapp is one of the key architects of the Team Kids Challenge. She first served as our Chief Program Officer, taking the program I created, and was teaching on the frontline, and developed our current Team Kids Challenge training, program manual and curriculum.
Julie is back on board as our lead researcher for our recent Team Kids Challenge evaluation in Torrance, and also now in Compton. After 15 years of delivering a program that all of us at Team Kids know is critical, it’s so exciting now to have even this initial data fueling our mission.
Julie shared the data from the pre/post surveys, showing significant growth -in almost every area tested. The report highlights strengthening of the Search Institute’s Developmental Assets, which research shows helps kids make better choices and can reduce high risk behavior. Another very exciting area of significant change was made possible, thanks to the commitment of our firefighter and police mentors. The report shows a powerful change in perception and trust with public safety -in particular police- in survey questions such as “police help kids succeed” and “police officers think I can make a difference in my community,” among others.
We are on an exciting path with data and outcomes that further prove what we’ve all witnessed and known… that it’s not just another program that kids need to be successful. It’s relationships. It’s relationships with people with power, people who care, and people who can make our youngest generation know that they are a much needed resource in their community.
Thanks Dr. Tapp for your tireless dedication to this great mission. You are helping pave the roadway for the Team Kids Mission to empower exponentially more students as powerful leaders, entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Its our next generation that can make our world a better place for all.