Loyola University Chicago
Here you will find all of CURL's research projects and publications.
(2007)
CURL in partnership with the Chicago Freedom School conducted an evaluation of the Chicago Freedom School's inaugural 6-week summer institute for Chicago youth during the summer of 2007. This final report prepared by CURL includes an overview of the CFS 2007 Summer Leadership Institute, the main evaluation activities, highlights of findings from all data collected, and recommendations.
Download Report Chicago Freedom School
(2006)
The Mayor's Office of Domestic Violence (MODV) and CURL initiated a two-year collaborative evaluation of the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line. The evaluation accomplished three main goals: 1) it assessed the effectiveness of the Help Line's operation in serving domestic violence victims from Chicago's diverse populations; 2) it described the unique needs of domestic violence victims diverse populations and their experiences using the information, referrals, and linkages received; and 3) it examined key features of the Help Line model.
Download Technical Report Providing a Citywide System of Single Point Access to Domestic Violence Information, Resources, and Referrals to a Diverse Population: An Evaluation of the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line
Download Executive Summary From the Perspective of Diverse Users: An Evaluation of the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line
Download summaries of findings from each group of informants:
(2006)
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) established pilot projects in the Chicagoland area to deliver very low-cost, high-speed broadband access to homes, small businesses, and community-based institutions. This report describes the process of creating and implementing a wireless network in four unique community settings and the impact of the wireless network upon the anchor/partner organization and community residents (end-users). In addition, the research data was used to help create a business model for sustaining the wireless network.
Download Report Transforming Vision into Action: An Evaluation of the Wireless Community Nework
(2005)
In an effort to bridge the digital divide, 76 organizations throughout the state of Illinois received Illinois Community Technology Fund (ICTF) grants between the years of 2000 and 2001 to provide technology services to Illinois residents representing a broad spectrum of ages and populations. After the disbursement of the grants, CURL was invited to collaborate with ICTF to evaluate the effectiveness of the grants.
Download Report Success and Challenges Among Community Technology Programs in Illinois
Download Policy Brief Beyond Bridging the Divide: The Case for Integrating Technology in Our Communities
(2001)
This report examines an innovative partnership designed to assist the employment needs of immigrant women who are survivors of domestic violence. This report examines the first eighteen months of the partnership in which Apna Ghar referred twelve women to The Enterprising Kitchen's (TEK) training slots. It looks at how the TEK model served the needs of both the immigrant women referred by Apna Ghar and the general TEK population, which is primarily composed of African American women. Data was gathered from interviews, focus groups, participant observations, and a review of all TEK and selected Apna Ghar case records.
Download Final Report Providing a Way Station: A Study to Provide Employment Services to Immigrant Women Victims of Domestic Violence
(2001)
STRIVE (Support and Training Result in Valuable Employees) Chicago Employment Service, Inc., and the CURL collaborated on a participatory evaluation of STRIVE’s Career Path Project (CPP). STRIVE is a non-profit organization with a mission to help chronically unemployed, low-income adults enter the workforce and develop stable work histories.
The evaluation team used two methods to collect data. First they randomly selected 127 case files to review. Second, they conducted in-depth phone interviews with 30 clients who were randomly selected among the 127 clients whose case files we had reviewed.
Download Final Report A Report on the Collaborative Evaluation of The STRIVE Career Path Project
(2001)
The Early Childhood Network of Edgewater & Rogers Park (ECN) was developed to test a model for improving services through a modest commitment of resources. The model proposes that one coordinator can network diverse child care providers throughout a neighborhood and maximize their ability to acquire the knowledge and resources necessary to improve and expand their programs. CURL evaluated the program.
Download Report Creating Community Connections: A Neighborhood Approach For Improving Early Childhood Education Programs
(2000)
This project with Erie Neighborhood House facilitated a comprehensive programmatic participatory evaluation process and developed education and training services for staff.
Download Report Report of Erie's Strategic Planning and Evaluation Process Presentation to Board
(1998)
This report describes a collaborative project between the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the CURL. The project, entitled Safety Enhanced Communities Utilizing Resident Endeavors (SECURE), was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of physical security improvements in affordable housing developments.
Download Report Crime Prevention and Perceptions of Residential Safety: Survey of Low Income Housing Residents