Regresando al Buen Camino: The Process of Creating Success for Latina/o Youth in a Court Diversion Program

• In Event: Roundtable Session 49
  In Roundtable Session: Latino Social Justice Spaces

Abstract

The study explored how Latin@ youth in a court diversion program returned to “el buen camino.” The concept of “el buen camino” is based on doing and behaving in a positive, productive, and morally correct manner. The court system referred students to the Esperanza program to guide them back to “el buen camino.” The research question was “How is ‘success’ defined in the Esperanza program?” The study included 30 interviews with youth participants, parents, program staff, and other stakeholders. The research used Critical Race Theory and Latino Critical Theory as theoretical frameworks. The results from study helped create a process model to understand and guide youth. The process model included eight stages that students may go through to become successful.

Author

• Gerardo Mancilla, University of Wisconsin - Madison