Jan 2020

Rethinking the Benefits of Youth Employment Programs: The Heterogeneous Effects of Summer Jobs

Jonathan Davis Sara Heller

This research paper presents the results of two randomized field experiments, which both involved offering supported summer job opportunities to different groups of young people in Chicago.

Related Resources
Longer-Term Impacts of a Youth Behavioral Science Intervention: Experimental Evidence from Chicago
Academic Paper

Longer-Term Impacts of a Youth Behavioral Science Intervention: Experimental Evidence from Chicago

Jun 2025

This paper details updated results from a study of Choose to Change® (C2C®), a trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy and intensive mentoring program developed by nonprofits Brightpoint and Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP).

Choose to Change® (C2C®) Program Guide
Other

Choose to Change® (C2C®) Program Guide

Oct 2024

This program guide is intended for community-based organizations working to fill gaps in services and reach an underserved population of youth impacted by violence and trauma.

Building safer communities: Behavioral science innovations in youth violence prevention
Brief

Building safer communities: Behavioral science innovations in youth violence prevention

Oct 2024

This policy brief highlights results from a large-scale randomized controlled trial that evaluated the impact of Choose to Change® (C2C®) on participants’ criminal justice involvement.

Unpacking the Impacts of a Youth Behavioral Health Intervention: Experimental Evidence from Chicago
Academic Paper

Unpacking the Impacts of a Youth Behavioral Health Intervention: Experimental Evidence from Chicago

Oct 2024

This working paper details results from a study of Choose to Change® (C2C®), a trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy and intensive mentoring program developed by nonprofits Brightpoint and Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP).

Latest Updates

UChicago Crime Lab’s Mayoral Public Safety Pledge
Op-Ed
UChicago Crime Lab
Aug 2026

UChicago Crime Lab’s Mayoral Public Safety Pledge

Chicago has a high-stakes mayoral election coming up in 2027. Given our dire budget situation, what should – or even can – whoever is in charge next do to address the city’s top priority: gun violence?

Senate Passes Promoting Police Leadership Act Inspired by University of Chicago’s PLA
Press Release
UChicago Crime Lab
Jun 2026

Senate Passes Promoting Police Leadership Act Inspired by University of Chicago’s PLA

The U.S. Senate passes the bipartisan Promoting Police Leadership Act, landmark legislation that draws heavily from the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy (PLA).

UChicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy Informs First-Ever Bipartisan Federal Legislation to Expand Commander-Level Law Enforcement Training
Press Release
UChicago Crime Lab
May 2026

UChicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy Informs First-Ever Bipartisan Federal Legislation to Expand Commander-Level Law Enforcement Training

Bipartisan Promoting Police Leadership Act, introduced by Senators Cornyn and Whitehouse, draws on UChicago model to set national standards