FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica Media Contact
Brynja Seagren, CEO
310.361.8500 x207
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB PROGRAM PROVEN TO REDUCE YOUTH RISK FACTORS FOR VIOLENCE
Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica led a pilot program found to be statistically significant at reducing youth risk factors for violence.
Santa Monica, CA – January 20, 2026 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica led Peaceful Connections, a groundbreaking program piloted across the LA area proven to reduce risk factors for violence among participating youth. An independent evaluation by the RAND Corporation, released in December 2025, found that youth who received intensive case management through the Boys & Girls Club program experienced statistically significant reductions in violence-related risk factors.
From 2022 to 2025, nearly 1,400 Los Angeles-area youth across nine Boys & Girls Clubs participated in Peaceful Connections, which combined Boys & Girls Clubs’ proven programs with individualized case management for youth with the highest needs. The program was implemented with funding from the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC).
“This research validates what we’ve known through over 80 years of serving kids: when young people have trained, trusted adults who believe in them and consistent access to proven programs, they thrive,” said Brynja Seagren, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica. “Peaceful Connections aligns perfectly with our whole child approach to youth development—addressing the complete social, emotional, and mental health needs of every child we serve.”
Key Takeaways of the Pilot
- Relationship-based support works and frequency matters. Youth who received individualized case management showed a statistically significant reduction in violence-related risk factors and the more sessions they completed, the greater the improvement. Gains were seen in emotional regulation, impulsivity, school engagement, and justice-related risk.
- Safe, trusted adults, the foundation of Boys & Girls Clubs after school programs were the pilot’s most powerful intervention. Youth consistently said the most valuable part of the program was having a stable adult who listened, followed through, and showed up. Staff reported visible improvements in youth behavior, coping skills, and engagement at school.
- Violence prevention is also education and workforce readiness. Case management sessions focused heavily on school success, goal-setting, and future planning. This meant youth were building pathways forward, rather than just avoiding harm. The pilot aligned violence prevention with California’s broader goals around graduation, employment, and economic mobility. Prevention funding works in tandem with education and workforce investments being made across the state.
- Youth need safe spaces outside of school and clinical settings. Peaceful Connections embedded mental-health-informed support inside trusted community spaces. Staff emphasized that many youth would not access formal therapy, but would engage through Clubs. Without community-based models like this, high-need youth fall through the cracks between systems.
“What makes this program so effective is that it meets kids where they are and intervenes before violence occurs,” Seagren explained. “We’re not waiting until young people are in crisis. We’re building relationships, teaching coping skills, and creating pathways to success through education and workforce readiness—all core elements of our mission.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s work on this pilot demonstrates that investing in prevention is investing in a brighter future, for kids and the entire community. The research shows that Clubs are making a meaningful difference in life trajectories, not just keeping kids busy after school.
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica
For over 80 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s sole focus has been on providing what kids need to thrive. As kid experts, we’re elevating after school with a holistic focus on helping kids and teens discover their potential, build meaningful relationships, and develop the skills they need to chase big dreams. Through over 30 intentionally designed programs in workforce readiness, healthy lifestyles, and character & leadership, we equip kids—especially those who need us most—to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Learn more at smbgc.org.
