Through a partnership between Florida International University’s Center for Urban Education and Innovation and the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), Project Lift: Literacy Intervention for Teens, teachers provide literacy tutoring to first time offenders enrolled in the PAD Program. 

The goal of Project Lift is to increase literacy, which should help to reduce the rate of recidivism for first time juvenile offenders, as research indicates a correlation between academic performance and continued delinquency.  This project is a model of service and training.  The training includes preparing literacy professionals to identify and address critical factors and conditions essential for academic support of urban youth. 

This project has been operational since the fall of 2001 and has served over 30 PAD program participants.  Enrollees meet with literacy professional for one school term and through guidance, support and mentoring they are able to develop a love of reading and ultimately improve their overall academic performance.

It has proven to be a mutually beneficial experience for teachers and students alike.  One participant recently completed reading her first novel ever; a parent was recently quoted as saying that she was “thrilled at her child’s improvement in school since the child had recently increased performance two complete grade levels”.

Project Lift has recently forged another partnership with Teen Court. PAD participants of Teen Court now have tutoring services provided by Project Lift in an effort to reach many more children. 

The services provided by Project Lift and the collaborations between all agencies involved is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished to benefit children when agencies work together for a common goal.

Lead Researcher:
Dr. Joyce Fine