Toward a theory of change in community-based practice with youth: A case-study exploration

Community organizations are potentially important mechanisms to support the well-being of children, youth, and their families in ways that are responsive and appropriate to their particular circumstances and with reference to the context of the neighborhoods in which they live. They do this, in part, by engaging with those with whom they seek to work in multiple ways: formally and informally, through a broad range of intervention strategies, activities, and programs, and by establishing ongoing, day-to-day interactions that are both flexible and grounded in an understanding of local context, individual needs, and community circumstances. However, given the complexity and ambiguity of the inputs and the breadth of their intended outcomes, understanding the impact that such organizations may have is problematic. This paper provides a brief case-study description in an effort to begin to tease out the inputs, outputs, and expected outcomes in one particular example of community-based practice. In particular, it seeks to identify and begin to investigate the range and nature of intermediate outcomes that may be posited to lead to the broader outcomes at the individual, family, and community level that such organizations often seek to effect.