L.A. CITY GANG INJUNCTION SETTLEMENT EVALUATION

The Gang Injunction Settlement requires the city of Los Angeles to provide employment and training services to the individuals directly or indirectly affected by the gang injunction. The services provided through the Economic and Workforce Development Department of the City of Los Angeles, will need to be evaluated. In this document, we describe 1) our proposed evaluation approach, and 2) our qualifications related to completing the work. Developing and integrating a cost-effective work-readiness and employment program is paramount to achieving the objectives and terms of the gang injunction settlement agreement. This initiative, the Los Angeles Reconnections Career Academy (LARCA 2.0), is another significant opportunity for the city to continue its nationally recognized efforts in creating workforce development opportunities for its residents. LARCA's target population consists exclusively of class members identified in the case of Rodriguez vs. City of Los Angeles. In line with the settlement agreement, the scope and purpose of LARCA include: 1) maximum new funding of $7.5 million per year for four years (up to $30 million), and 2) providing targeted programs, resources, and guidance aimed at building educational and career skills that pave the way for enhanced employment opportunities. Operated by the Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) through its WorkSource and YouthSource Centers, and with key partners (i.e., Los Angeles Unified School District, LAUSD; Los Angeles Community College District, LACCD, and the State Development Department, EDD), LARCA's outcomes emphasize job training, job readiness, and subsidized employment opportunities. The primary objective of this settlement agreement is to positively influence the trajectory of participant?s lives. Indeed, LARCA's effectiveness will depend upon the coordination, cooperation, and collaboration of and between key stakeholders. It is important that stakeholders know and understand which elements of the program are effectively serving the intended class members, and which are not. To this end, and in accordance with the settlement agreement, it is critical that a third-party evaluator thoroughly track and assess the progress of the target group and associated program outcomes. To accurately assess these outcomes, and effectively evaluate LARCA's overall impact, its target population must be a significant data source. It will be necessary, then, to survey program participants, often at multiple time points. This population, however, may pose challenges in consistently collecting enough survey data to reach any meaningful prescriptive and/or evaluative conclusions. Therefore, the purpose of this evaluation, led by California State University, Northridge, is threefold: 1. The primary objective is to formally track and assess the extent to which the program achieves its stated outcomes during all phases. 2. The secondary objective is to provide formative evaluation data to address any management issues related to program implementation, early in the process so the program can be adjusted. 3. Finally, to identify the survey approach that is best suited to LARCA's target population.