What started in 1998, focusing on teen pregnancy prevention, has since evolved to a broader focus on promoting protective factors for youth. The Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research, and Evaluation (CORE) is dedicated to promoting positive youth development in Erie County.

Director James Hodge, associate director Charrise Nixon and associate director of research and evaluation Megan LaMotte have joined the Prevention Research Center, hoping to spread their message.

“We help other organizations and schools that are trying to answer the question of whether their program and curriculum are effective. We do program evaluation work, where we help others understand and use data to make decisions about their programs, and then I would say academically, as researchers, we study risk and protective factors for youth,” Hodge said.

The ability to form long-standing connections is a goal of CORE and remains a driving factor in joining the PRC. 

“We have worked hard to make those connections, and we make the connections, not just for ourselves, but to help. We really work to help others, make connections and benefit youth,” Nixon said.

Hodge shared similar sentiments, adding that CORE’s presence in the PRC and Penn State community will contribute to their goals and the impact they have the potential to achieve. 

“Another metric of our success is having a more prominent posture within Penn State for us to be collaborating with more faculty in this space at University Park and across the Commonwealth,” Hodge said. “For faculty to know that we are a trusted partner if they are in need of research support or program evaluation.”

CORE’s long-standing mentoring program, The Mentor Project, is rooted in research-based strategies that help early adolescents, aged 10-14, develop protective factors such as empathy, hope and resilience. Through this program and supportive mentors, students gain emotional skills and coping strategies. 

Programs like The Mentor Project combine the knowledge of trained mentors, school partners and data-based evaluation to create a meaningful impact on students and school environments. 

The addition of support from the PRC not only creates more opportunities but also allows CORE to serve more communities effectively.

LaMotte said that the resources provided by the PRC will help CORE reach broader communities, ultimately furthering their message of positive youth development and the prevention of youth-related problems.