Prodigy Program
The Prodigy Cultural Arts Program is a multi-agency collaboration between the University Area Community Development Center (UACDC), University of South Florida, and Bay Area Youth Services, Inc. (BAYS). In 2003, the UACDC partnered with the USF School of Social Work and BAYS to further the development of the Prodigy Program. As the grantee, USF is a fiscal agent and responsible for conducting outcomes-based research including sponsoring a recent international study by McGill University that included the Prodigy Tampa site. The Prodigy Cultural Arts Program is funded by the State of Florida.
Prodigy is a research based structured program built upon an asset-based youth development model that promotes positive identity-building and pro-social norms. The studio experience, for youth, is based on a child-centered learning approach. Youth and artistic instructors collaborate on group and individual projects fostering an atmosphere of cooperation throughout the program.
Prodigy serves youth aged 7 through 17 who fall into either the Prevention, Diversion, or Intervention categories. Eligible youth must reside within program zip code boundaries.
Prevention: Youth who are at-risk, but have not committed a delinquent offense.
Diversion: Youth who have committed a delinquent offense and are referred by the Department of Juvenile Justice or State Attorney’s Office.
Intervention: Adjudicated youth referred and under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice or another Juvenile Justice program.
Prevention, Diversion, and Intervention youth receive art programming services, and additionally, Diversion youth and their families also receive case management services through BAYS.
A unique feature of Prodigy is the use of social purpose art projects, where youth create art that ultimately connects them to their lived experience, promoting the development of a better understanding of community in the youth. Social purpose artistic themes have included: exploring media influence, personal and cultural history projects, conflict resolution, inner peace, self-reflection exercises, and environmental and safety concerns.
The conceptual framework of Prodigy makes the program effective. Starting with art instruction, which is structured, cumulative, and sustained, as youth participate they gain art and task completion skills that facilitate their ability to develop a number of pro-social skills. Those skills in turn lead to self-efficacy and self-esteem which further facilitates youth bonding to pro-social peers and adults. The outcomes are a decrease in behavioral and emotional problems.
