YES! Sí Se Puede: Preliminary Results from an Urban Latinx Youth Development Program.

Background: Latinx persons are America's largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority, however they are at risk for poor academic and health outcomes. The challenges presented by urbanization are best addressed by collaborative community partnerships.

Objectives: Share implementation and preliminary results of a partnership-driven program for positive youth development of at-risk youth.

Methods: The YES! Sí Se Puede project aimed to reduce academic and health disparities among Latinx youth through a university-middle school-community organization alliance. A sample of 134 middle school students (across three cohorts) from southern California participated in a youth development intervention across 1 year (2010-2013). Data were collected at baseline, post-program, and 6-month follow-up.

Results: Computer knowledge (P = 0.006), academic self-esteem (P = 0.010), and friend social support for physical activity (P = 0.002) significantly increased.

Conclusions: Although data show partial success, the long-term investment of attention and quality programming for underserved youth and families will likely provide benefits for years to come.