Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. February 2005
North Carolina Evaluation Report FY 2004
1
Eckerd Wilderness
Educational System
Evaluation Report – Fiscal Year 2004
NORTH CAROLINA
Improving The Future, One Child At A Time
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. February 2005
North Carolina Evaluation Report FY 2004
2
Eckerd Wilderness Educational System
Evaluation Report (FY 2004)
Introduction
As a condition of program expansion in the 1998 Juvenile Reform Act, the North Carolina General Assembly requires
annual evaluations of many of the programs that are approved for funding.
This report will examine the North Carolina Eckerd Wilderness Educational System by looking at:
• Services provided to the clients
• Demographics of those served
• Behavioral changes and academic growth of youth while in the programs
• Follow-up evaluation of the programs’ long-range impact
• Cost benefits to the state
Services Provided
The North Carolina Eckerd programs serve boys and girls, ages 10 through 16, with behavioral, emotional and delin-quency
problems. The Eckerd Wilderness Educational System offers year-round, staff-secure, residential therapeutic
programs, providing an alternative to more restrictive settings. Counselor-teachers live with the youth in groups of
ten that are designed to promote self-esteem, personal responsibility, problem-solving skills, communication skills,
and self-discipline. Group activities are the medium for problem-solving and interpersonal skill development. Youth
learn immediate cause and effect relationships as they live with the natural consequences of their own decisions,
choices, and behaviors.
Experiential education and individual instruction promote positive attitudes towards learning while strengthening ba-sic
skills. Youth earn educational credits during the program and are assisted with reentry into public schools. The
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits the North Carolina programs as experiential learning centers.
In addition, each program is also fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation and licensed by the North Carolina
Department of Health and Human Services.
Family workers provide ongoing services to the parents while their children are enrolled in the program. These ser-vices
are directed toward strengthening parental skills and abilities to influence their child’s learning, improving their
capacity to provide a positive home environment, and connecting with community resources. The family worker is
the liaison between programs and the family and provides counseling, crisis intervention, and case management ser-vices.
In most locations, family workers also facilitate parent groups.
Youth Profile
Youth who enter EYA North Carolina programs come with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge.
They are often absent from school in the months prior to admission due to truancy, suspension, or expulsion. They
have difficulty with anger management, verbalizing their thoughts and feelings, and self-esteem. Relationships with
their families, peers, and adults in authority are often difficult for them. They tend to rebel against rules and struc-ture,
some by running away, some through aggression, and some by withdrawing emotionally. They arrive at the pro-grams
unhappy with themselves and troubling to others. With all of this in mind, it is EYA’s goal to help youth move
to a better place in their lives, through treatment and understanding.
Fiscal Year 2004
In FY 2004, 416 of the youth that entered EYA North Carolina programs were funded by the North Carolina Depart-ment
of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. EYA’s fiscal year runs from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. February 2005
North Carolina Evaluation Report FY 2004
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Youth who entered EYA North Carolina programs had the
following characteristics at intake:
• Average age of 14.5, average grade level of 7.9 and
average IQ of 88.6
• 59.9% were 14 or 15 years of age and 80.8% were in
the seventh, eighth, or ninth grade
• 43.8% came from single parent homes
The percentage of females (16.3%) is the highest in the
last five years.
The percentage of youth with offenses in FY 2004 in-creased
to 60.1%, the highest rate in five years .
The average number of offenses for youth with at least
one adjudication have remained consistent over the last
five years.
Gender at Intake
87.1% 84.2% 83.7%
90.4% 85.9%
9.6% 14.1% 12.9% 15.8% 16.3%
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004
Male Female
The percentage of minority youth has increased over the
last five years from 27.5% in FY 2000 to 40.4% in FY
2004.
Minority Population at Intake
27.5% 27.6% 30.0%
34.0%
40.4%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004
Percent of Youth with Offenses at Intake
55.4% 57.2% 56.8% 60.1% 52.2%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004
Average Number of Offenses for Youth with
Offenses at Intake
2.4 2.7 2.5 2.7 2.5
0
1
2
3
4
FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004
• 9.7% came from homes where no parent was present
• 25.2% were identified as having substance abuse is-sues,
21.6% had parents who abused alcohol and/or
drugs and 11.8% have had at least one parent incar-cerated
• 35.6% were classified as special education students
Demographics at Intake
Most Serious Offense at Intake
8.8%
2.0%
6.0% 4.4% 4.4%
33.6%
40.8%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
Status
Offense
Probation
Violation
Public
Order
Offense
Drug
Related
Offense
Weapon
Offense
Property
Offense
Person
Offense
Of youth with offenses at intake,
74.4% have person or property of-fenses.
Youth with person offenses
accounted for 40.8%, while 33.6% of
youth had property offenses as their
most serious crime.
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. February 2005
North Carolina Evaluation Report FY 2004
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Of the 396 youth exiting programs in FY 2004, 76.5% successfully completed their identified treatment goals and
objectives. The average length of stay for all graduates was 10.7 months. This was slightly higher than last year’s
average length of stay of 10.5 months.
The Piers Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale is a brief, self-report test designed to aid in the assessment of self-concept
in youth. Eckerd programs use all aspects of the Piers Harris for assessment purposes when developing in-dividual
treatment plans. The Piers Harris is comprised of an 80-item self-report questionnaire designed to deter-mine
how youth feel about themselves. The single most reliable measure for the Piers Harris and the one with the
best research support is the total score. An increase in total score from pre-test to post-test indicates gains in self-esteem.
For FY 2004 the average pre-test total score was 53.4, the average post-test total score was 59.8 and the
overall average percentage gain from pre-test to post-test was 14.9% .
The North Carolina contract provides that youth served by Eckerd show progress in academic achievement while
assigned to a program. The experiential learning component that is built into all aspects of the program is designed
to ensure that youth do not lose ground when they return to their home schools. The Woodcock Johnson – III Tests
of Achievement is used to measure academic progress in reading and math. Scores indicate the pre-test and post-test
scores in terms of grade placement. The graph below indicates that students advanced an average of 1.4 grade
levels in reading and .9 grade levels in math during their stay.
Exit Information
Exit Reason Percentage
76.5%
11.1%
1.5% 7.3% 3.5%
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
Successful
Completion
Withdraw l Transfer Camp
Termination
Other
Behavioral Changes
Academic Growth
Woodcock Johnson III Average Test Scores
8.3
7.3
8.2
6.9
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
Reading at Intake Reading at Exit Math at Intake Math at Exit
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. February 2005
North Carolina Evaluation Report FY 2004
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The annual contract between the North Carolina Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and Eckerd
Youth Alternatives, Inc., requires Eckerd to conduct follow up evaluations at 6-month and 12-month intervals on
each successful completer. The most recent follow-up report shows the 6-month and 12-month contact with suc-cessful
completers from FY 2003. Data was collected at 6-month follow-up for 315 graduates and at 12-month fol-low-
up on 284 graduates. This report provides a summary of living status, subsequent delinquency, mental health
services and educational/vocational status for youth who complete their program.
Living Status at 6 and 12-Months Post-Service 6-Months 12-Months
Two Parent Home—Biological and/or Adoptive 20.0% 16.2%
Single Parent 42.2% 41.2%
Parent and Step—Parent or Partner 21.6% 21.8%
Relative 9.5% 10.6%
Foster Home or Group Home 1.9% 3.2%
Other* 4.8% 7.0%
*Other is defined as Independent Living, Living with a Friend, Mental Health Placement or Delinquency Placement.
Subsequent Delinquency within 12-Months of Successful Completion
Recidivism
Percentage of youth convicted of any new offense or technical violation in either juvenile or adult court 15.2%
Post-Service Supervision
Percentage of youth on probation or under court ordered supervision 6.8%
Post-Service Placement
Percentage of youth placed in a residential setting as or more restrictive than the program 5.2%
Over the last five years, the recidivism
rate has remained stable, although the
percentage of youth with offenses at in-take
continues to increase.
Recidivism Rate
14.5% 15.3% 13.9% 15.2% 15.2%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004
Long Range Benefits at 6 and 12 Months Follow-up
North Carolina Successful Completers from July 1, 2002—June 30, 2003
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. February 2005
North Carolina Evaluation Report FY 2004
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Mental Health Service - Residential
Percentage of youth utilizing residential mental health services 4.0%
Mental Health Service – Non-residential
Percentage of youth utilizing non-residential mental health services 7.1%
Mental Heath Services within 12-Months of Successful Completion
The percentage of youth using non-residential
mental health services any-time
during the 12-month follow-up pe-riod
has slowly declined over the last
three fiscal years, reaching a low of 7.1%
in FY 2004.
Educational/Vocational Status at 6 and 12-Months Post-Service 6-Months 12-Months
Percentage youth working and/or attending school.
Youth in a delinquency placement at the post-service period are not included. 92.7% 84.0%
At 12-months post-service 84.0% of youth who success-fully
completed their programs were working and/or
attending school.
At 6-months post-service 92.7% of youth who success-fully
completed their program were working and/or
attending school.
Percent of Youth Using Non Residential Mental
Health Services
19.1%
17.1%
14.7%
7.1%
10.7%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004
Working and/or Attending School at
6-Months Post-Service
Working and
Not Attending
School 5.4%
Not Working
and Not
Attending
School 7.3%
Attending
School and
Not Working
69.6%
Attending
School and
Working 17.6%
Working and/or Attending School at
12-Months Post-Service
Attending
School and
Not Working
55.2% Attending
School and
Working 20.1%
Working and
Not Attending
School 8.7%
Not Working
and Not
Attending
School 16.0%
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. February 2005
North Carolina Evaluation Report FY 2004
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Cost Benefit
Youth made significant gains while in programs and adjusted well once they returned to their families and commu-nities.
The cost per day for a youth served in Eckerd programs for FY 2004 was $100.54 with an average length of
stay for graduates of 10.7 months. To assess the relative value of this program, please refer to the juvenile justice
residential costs comparison chart below. (Cost comparison data of non-Eckerd programs reflect FY 2004 data ob-tained
from the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.)
Program Type Daily Cost/Per Diem
Eckerd Programs $100.54
Secure Detention $147.00
Youth Development Centers $174.00
Residential Cost Comparison
Summary and Conclusions
This report reviewed the Eckerd Wilderness Educational System that is operated under contract between the North
Carolina Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc., a private not-for-
profit provider headquartered in Clearwater, Florida.
Conclusions that are supported by this evaluation are:
1. The programs serve a high-risk group of youth whose behavior makes them likely candidates for further be-havior
and delinquency problems.
2. Based on pre-tests and post-tests, the programs have a positive impact on the social skills, academic
achievement and basic attitudes of the youth served.
3. Follow-up evaluation shows that these behavior and attitude changes are resulting in long-range improve-ments
for the youth served.
4. The changed behaviors are resulting in cost savings to the state in fewer youth development center and
mental health placements.
The Eckerd programs are providing a clearly beneficial service. As one of the few residential alternatives available
to all of the juvenile courts as an Intermediate Sanction the Eckerd programs are filling an important need in North
Carolina’s Juvenile Justice System.
Improving the Future, One Child at a Time
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc.
100 North Starcrest Dr
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 461-2990 phone
(727) 442-5911 fax
www.eckerd.org
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. strictly adheres to a policy of nondiscrimination in the admission of youth without regard to
race, religion, color, sex, handicap, age or national origin. Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
Data and information contained herein cannot be used without the express written authorization
of Eckerd Youth Alternatives. All inquiries about the use of this information should be directed
to the Director of Corporate Communications at Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc.
© Copyright Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. February 2005. All rights reserved.