Impact 2012
Impact 2012 is Boys & Girls Clubs of America's five-year strategic plan that focuses on four major areas of concern:
1. Crime and Substance Abuse
Crime, drug, and alcohol use are among the most serious problems affecting America's young people. Every 24 hours, more than 15,000 teens use drugs for the first time. Every two hours a youth is murdered. Every four minutes a youth is arrested for an alcohol-related crime and every seven minutes a youth is arrested for a drug crime (Crime Time by Safe Place). And in the next 24 hours, 3,506 teens will run away from home (Teen Help). According to the Harris Interactive 2007 Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Survey, some 67% of Club alumni attribute their ability to avoid difficulty with the law to the influence of the Club staff, and 67% also say the Club is where they learned to "say no" to drugs and alcohol.
2. Dropout Rates
In 2006 alone, 1.2 million teenagers did not graduate from high school in the United States - that's 30% of the class of 2006. The number increases to an astonishing 50% among some minorities. According to a survey by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 88% of those surveyed (ages 16 to 25 in 25 urban, rural and suburban communities nationwide) had passing grades when they dropped out of school, and 91% of those dropouts said they knew that graduating was vital to their future success. According to the Harris alumni survey, some 28% report they would have dropped out of high school if not for the Club, plus 51% achieved a higher level of education than they thought possible because of attending the Club.
3. Childhood Obesity
Obesity and lack of physical fitness is also a serious issue affecting today's youth. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 16% of adolescents in the United States are overweight. This figure has nearly tripled in the last 20 years. Some 25% of young people (ages 12-21) report that they do not participate in any vigorous physical activity and 14% report that they do not even participate in any light to moderate physical activity. This lack of physical fitness and abundance of obesity means that 16% of our teens are at risk for heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Type 2 diabetes has also increased dramatically in teens as a direct result of adolescent obesity. Of the alumni surveyed, 80% said that their Club experience made a positive impact on their attitude toward fitness and health, with 74% participating in organized sports.
4. African-American Males
According to a 2006 New York Times article by Erik Eckholm, the problems facing many African-American males have become an epidemic. Eckholm states that about one-third of black males are awaiting trial, in jail or prison, or on probation or parole. In their lifetime, nearly one-third of black males will spend some time in jail or prison. Black males are more likely to drop out of high school, be placed in special education classes, and be suspended or expelled, but less likely to be placed in gifted and talented classes. More than 50% of black males in inner-city schools do not graduate from high school. However, according to the Harris survey, some 73% of African-American male alumni said the "Club saved my life." Most impressive, 34% of African-American Boys & Girls Club male alumni earned a four-year college degree, compared to the national rate of 16% (2006 Current Population Survey).
To address these areas of concern, Clubs are challenged to:
• Increase overall daily attendance, and increased frequency of attendance for each Club member.
• Emphasize outcome measurement of success indicators, including academic achievement, juvenile crime reduction, and level of civic engagement.
• Outreach to more young people and families in need.
• Place special emphasis on serving the needs of teens.
• Strengthen local Clubs through enhanced training and development of professional youth development staff.
• Establish new Clubs in communities where the needs are greatest, reaching a total of 5,000 service locations by 2012.
Click here to download the Impact 2012 Brochure
Alumni Facts*
• 67% of Club alumni attribute their ability to avoid difficulty with the law to the influence of the Club staff.
• 28% of Club alumni report they would have dropped out of high school if not for the Club.
• 51% achieved a higher level of education than they thought possible because of attending the Club.
• 80% said that their Club experience made a positive impact on their attitude toward fitness and health with 74% participating in organized sports.
• 34% of African-American Boys & Girls Club male alumni earned a four-year college degree, compared to the national rate of 16% (2006 Current Population Survey).
*Source: Harris Interactive 2007 Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Survey
