DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative: Needs ... - Urban Institute

DC Promise Neighborhoods Initiative: Needs Assessment and Segmentation Analysisindicator of other risky youth behaviors, including delinquency or health risks such as drug use andunsafe sex. That said, truancy levels are poor, as methods for tracking attendance, transfers, and otherschool absences are not consistent across schools.Health and Sexual SafetyFinding: There is a lack of mentorship and counseling opportunities for female youth, and sexual assaultcrimes are significantly underreported.While the number of sexual assaults in the DCPNI footprint is not higher than the DC average, it is widelyacknowledged by experts at MPD and in social services aimed at teen girls in the DC area that there is amuch higher incidence of sexual assaults within and around schools and these crimes are severelyunderreported.There is also a sense from community residents that girls and young women do face a high risk of assaultor negative sexual attention in the area more generally. Girls and women in the focus groups andworking group meetings expressed a desire for more female-centered mentorship programs. Whilethere are many stable adult women present in the neighborhood, they believe that more formalmentorship, guidance, and counseling is necessary—particularly for teen girls who have a high need toshare experiences and emotions.The following data was collected from the school climate survey:School Climate Survey“Other students make sexual comments (a couple of times a year to everyday)”School All DCPNIOther Female MaleNeighborhood Neighborhoods37.6 40.6 37.1 38.8 35.7Chavez High SchoolChavez Middle School 44.7 42.9 45.7 53.7 32.9**Differences by neighborhood and differences by gender: p