In RESULTS, you'll see numbers, charts and graphs and you'll hear directly from the young people we serve. And hopefully, you'll gain a fuller understanding of how the Latin American Youth Center is improving the lives of the young people who participate in our programs.

As many of you know, there is an increased focus in the non-profit field on tracking outcomes. In simple language: what does a particular program accomplish. Or put another way, who do you serve and what do they get out of it? It's a fair question. And one that we work hard to answer.

In 2005, LAYC hired its first research and evaluation specialist, Isaac Castillo. Since joining LAYC, Isaac has implemented a rigorous data collection and outcome-tracking effort, enabling LAYC to better measure the success of its programs and pursue data-driven modifications and improvements.

Each of LAYC's more than 50 programs collects demographic data on how many youth are being served, what Ward or county they live in, the participant's race, country of birth, and whether they participate in more than one LAYC program. Additionally, many programs collect data that track the specific outcomes they are working to achieve, such as as passing the GED or achieving a successful job placement.

LAYC just completed its fiscal year on September 30. We now have our first full year of data collected since we began our evaluation efforts. And we're excited about sharing what we've learned in the past year.

What's particularly powerful about data-driven evaluation is that it provides the basis for important learnings and improvements to programs.

Here's a quick example of how data can provide a fuller, richer understanding of a particular program. Let's take LAYC's AmeriCorps program that provides after-school homework assistance to elementary school students.

It's one thing to say: "Last year, we provided after-school homework help to about 65 kids at Tubman Elementary school."

It's more interesting and informative to be able to say: "Last year, we provided 68 Students at Tubman Elementary School with 2,737 hours of homework assistance. Students received 3,374 homework assistance sessions, with an average session length of 49 minutes. At the end of 93.5% of the sessions, homework had been completed." That gives you a fuller sense. And, of course, learning that 51% of sessions dealt with math and 44% focused on language arts provides additional information.

The next step -- and one that we're focused on this year -- is assessing what impact this homework assistance had on the school grades of participants.

Of course, there is the human dimension as well.

Angela Chavez, an AmeriCorps member who worked this past year with 4th, 5th and 6th graders at Bruce Monroe Elementary School, spent most of her time helping those students who had recently immigrated from El Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala. She worked with the young people on their English skills, helping them build their comprehension and comfort with the new language.

Angela described the impact she had on the young people this way, "They trusted me. I helped them feel more comfortable and more confident and they were more motivated to come to school. My work with them reminded me of when I was that age and it felt really good."

It's just one example, but hopefully it gives you a sense of LAYC's evaluation work. Through RESULTS, we'll work to provide you a better understanding of the young people we serve, the services we provide, and how those services are affecting the young people's lives.

So come back to this area from time to time and get the latest RESULTS.