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Orange County Youth Commission Santa Ana, California Character development is a unique emphasis we have incorporated into our after-school programs. Our curriculum encourages responsibility and other positive social behaviors so youth can live out ethical lifestyles and succeed in their future goals including employment opportunities. Our goal is to provide these young people with the character education necessary to make personal, academic, career-goals and meet these goals successfully in the process of training them in the sport of boxing. This also aids in providing our youth the opportunity to develop positive social behaviors and life skills that will help them acquire and retain future employment. These character traits include: 1) Respect; 2) Responsibility; 3) Integrity; 4) Compassion; 5) Perseverance; 6) Initiative and 7) Forgiveness. All of these character traits are necessary to pursue academic and career goals and be successful once goals are achieved. They also support conflict- resolution skills and give youth inner-strength to work through challenges in life. These character traits are those found in productive workers and citizens. They represent the type of character we appreciate in our government and business leaders. Additionally, participants are given opportunities to plan special community service projects. They develop leadership abilities as they learn to implement their plans and receive great satisfaction completing the project knowing they are improving their communities. Community service projects from previous years include Tsunami Relief Fundraiser, Graffiti removal, and Christmas parties for the neighborhood where the teens do the giving to the community. Element Number 10: Comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral, as appropriate. Anthony Serrano, Sports Club Director, is a certified and experienced drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselor. He and staff provide prevention and intervention counseling. They also provide academic counseling to all youth in the program and particularly to those who are in their last year of high school. Staff will assist youth in making and implementing informed educational and occupational choices, ensuring that they are prepared for post-secondary education or specific vocational training. The boxing club staff may refer many of these youth to WIA youth-serving agencies and other local programs as deemed appropriate, thus developing a linkage to another agency that is better equipped to handle specific need. Some of the agencies that we refer to include La Familia, Ritmo, Therapeutic Arts, Taller San Jose, higher education centers or career centers at Santa Ana High School or Santa Ana ROP, and more. Planned Outcomes: Short-term outcomes include maintaining or increasing GP A, attendance, literacy and nurneracy scores on the T ABE from pre to post testing. Intermediate outcome measures include continued involvement with the after-school boxing club and/or peer mentoring, improvement in attitude. Long-term outcome includes earning high-school diploma, job placement and trade school or college entry and completion. Case notes in each