This report presents findings from Phase 1 of an evaluation of the New York City Beacons initiative, a school-community-family partnership model initiated in 1991. Beacons are community centers within public schools that offer activities and services to people of all ages before and after school, in the evenings, and on weekends. Research included analysis of the development and evolution of the initiative, and examination of how the concept has been implemented at individual sites. It involved two rounds of site visits to 39 Beacons in 1997-98, parent focus groups, participant surveys, and youth interviews. Overall, the Beacons have created safe havens for children and youth and provided many important services for children and families. Beacons have fostered positive youth development and leadership, helped youths avoid risky behavior, provided foster-care prevention services, and facilitated improved relationships between host schools and parent communities. There is variation across the 39 Beacons. Most have strong or exemplary programs in one or two of four essential areas (youth development programming, academic support and enrichment activities, parental involvement and family support, and neighborhood safety and community building), and acceptable implementation overall. Results are also presented on patterns of participation. (SM)