Back to Our Future (B2OF)
Back to Our Future (B2OF) is a state-funded, district-led, evidence-informed effort to re-engage disconnected students at an elevated risk for gun violence involvement.
Contact Dar’tavous Dorsey to learn more.
Challenge
Not completing high school increases young people’s likelihood of becoming involved in gun violence. In Chicago, the connection between disengagement from school and gun violence is clear: Analysis from the Crime Lab and Education Lab shows that as of March 2023, more than 90% of school-aged victims of gun violence were inactive at the time of their victimization. Existing violence prevention programs for youth have focused on those who still have some connection to school. Consequently, young people disconnected from school have historically been out of reach of crucial services and support.
Opportunity
In May 2022, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office announced an $18 million investment to support the B2OF pilot program, aiming to re-engage 1,000 disconnected young people in school. To implement B2OF, CPS partners with three community-based organizations: Breakthrough, UCAN, and Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc.
The Plan
To support this ambitious effort, the Education Lab partnered with CPS throughout the pilot year of B2OF, which concluded in May 2023. In addition to analyzing referral, consent, and participation data, the Education Lab provided implementation support to UCAN, YAP, and Breakthrough staff and conducted focus groups to understand how youth experienced the program.
To learn more about the project, visit the B2OF project page on the Crime Lab website.
Years Active
2022 – 2024
Scaling Promising Practices in Youth Mentoring
This case study by Results for America highlights the Crime Lab and Education Lab’s role in the City of Chicago’s bold initiative to expand the evidence-based Becoming a Man group mentoring model to serve thousands of young men.
Randomized evaluation of a school-based, trauma-informed group intervention for young women in Chicago
Science Advances journal publication.
Working on Womanhood Research Brief
Research brief for the Working on Womanhood project.
Seizing the Opportunity to Advance Education Equity
2021 Education Lab report on barriers to education faced by CPS students.