Past Projects / Reports

The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (APPP) project was a comprehensive study with three major components. The study included an examination of activities performed by the Jacksonville Alliance for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy (Alliance), a needs and assets assessment of the zip codes served by the Alliance, and an initiative to encourage teens to express their thoughts through a variety of medium, including writing, drawing, and video.

An examination of the "Trust and Cooperation" concept as the foundation for successful schools. A sample of high-achieving and low achieving elementary schools in Florida was used. 

A program to reduce substance abuse and HIV acquisition for targeted at-risk African American women of childbearing age and their children. 

An assessment on the operations of the Northeast Florida Boy Scout Council for their Scouting in Public Housing program. This program established scout troops for targeted children in at-risk communities. 

As part of a PEW initiative, CCI worked to assess the mechanisms through which the Bridge has become a successful program and to document how others may replicate this success. 

Taking it to the Streets: Investigating Social Problems and Improving Student Outcomes through Community-Based Research represents a unique effort, melding classroom activities with community research and civic engagement to address student' depression and substance abuse. 

CUP was a program focused on building positive relationships between children, their incarcerated parents, and caregivers. It was created to help decrease the cycle of crime in at-risk communities. 

These pilot programs are part of the Florida Department of Health initiative that follows the CDC's Recommendations to improve Preconception Health and Health Care (major contributing factors to poor birth outcomes). 

A comprehensive risk and needs assessment of the prison population within the Department of Corrections. 

Developed in 1992 as a result of legislation introduced by then Senator Bill Bankhead, the EDIP program focused on youth with limited judicial involvement. EDIP had two components: first, a residential phase to introduce a daily structure, provide intensive school monitoring, provide therapy, and complete behavioral analysis and other assessments. Second, the aftercare phase provided one-on-one work between the youth and a case manager to work towards project goals. 

With funds received from a Compassion Capital Grant, Fresh Ministries is in the planning stages of developing a strategy to increase graduation rates in a struggling neighborhood in East Jacksonville. They have focused their efforts around six issues: education, affordable housing, economic development, safety and security, family strengthening, and health. In partnership with Fresh Ministries, CCI conducted a needs and assets assessment of the neighborhood in order to maximize the planning process. 

In order to investigate the economic impact of arts and culture in the greater Jacksonville area, the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives, at the request of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, is conducting an economic impact study of a number of cultural organizations located within Duval County. These organizations provide data about their operations, such as how many employees they have, how much income they generate and how income is used. 

A look at the barriers to employment in Duval County and how they relate to unemployment disparities between the races. Sponsored by the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission. 

The primary purpose of this project is to analyze models for foster care and child protective services through a comprehensive critical analysis of existing service delivery projects. In addition, a spatial analysis is conducted of existing services and needs by the construction of data maps showing the location of services in Duval County. 

Program designed to reduce high-risk behaviors in a population at-risk for HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. Interventions emphasizing substance abuse prevention and behavioral change were delivered by community-based agencies. 

An assessment of a pilot batterers' intervention program for incarcerated male offenders. 

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate what the potential problems were with current breath testing equipment and procedures, and their usability in courts of law, from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective. 

A short term, structured sports camp for at-risk adolescent girls selected by United Way agencies. The primary purpose of the assessment was to examine the relationship between participation in the sports camp and subsequent involvement of participants in physical activities and other performance domains.

The Magnolia Project is a federal Healthy Start initiative intended to decrease the high rates of infant mortality in an area of Jacksonville most affected by this problem. The population served by Magnolia consists of women of child bearing age who reside in the target area and who have little or no regular access to health care. Magnolia provides services for this population in a store-front clinic located in the heart of the target area. The services include: 1) well-woman medical services, and 2) intensive case management consisting of counseling and referrals for services to local agencies. CCI responsibilities include coordination of data collection, interviewing and focus groups, data analysis, surveys, and report production according to the federal guidelines. 

An examination of the Malavai Washington Kids Foundation of Jacksonville youth program. 

PACE provides girls and young women with an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. CCI provided an assessment of the PACE program. 

A juvenile delinquency prevention program for young females. The objective of the study was to explore the effects of the residential stay on the girl's self-perceptions, emotional stability, maturity level, and overall commitment to program goals. 

The purpose of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the perceptions of PAL staff with regard to program needs, concerns, and benefits. 

A comprehensive examination of the state of race relations in Jacksonville. The study included a variety of research activities including an examination of the literature (including local newspapers), a random telephone survey, face-to-face interviews, and an analysis of the Study Circles initiative. 

Five-year project headed by the Anglican Church designed to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the African countries of South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia . Strategies to achieve the project's goals included: HIV prevention education at the community level and in the churches, HIV testing, and linkages with other local organizations already working towards reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS. 

An inventory of available services for homeless adults and children in the rural counties of Northeast Florida surrounding Duval County. 

The Study Circle process, an initiative of The Jacksonville Human rights Commission (JHRC), involves diverse groups of ordinary citizens talking about the state of race relations in their community and in their own lives. Discussions focus on the “stories” of each participant. The overall goal, according JHRC, is for the participant to “begin to understand how people of another race, gender, religion, age or sexual orientation see the world.”

CCI was enlisted to assess the Study Circles and to examine how participants’ perceptions of race relations were effected by their participation. The participants were asked questions about race relations in respect to Jacksonville and about their own personal experiences, understandings, interactions, and attitudes towards diverse groups.

A reflective process grant to conduct a contextual evaluation of Theatreworks services. Tools used include a comprehensive literature review, an examination of historical records, focus groups and interviews, surveys of participants, and S.W.O.T. analysis with the Board. 

The status of Women and Girls in 21st Century Northeast Florida is examined.