Out-of-School-Time Quality Matters

2015

Need After-school and other out-of-school-time programs in Kansas City do not have accreditation standards for quality. Staff turnover tends to be high, and staff credentials are often low. Few staff have obtained the Youth Development Credential or taken college coursework in youth development and curriculum. Overall Goals and Objectives This project aims to engage youth programs in a quality improvement initiative, which involves pre/post external program assessment, self-assessment, access to staff training, and coaching for program personnel. In addition, the project plans to survey youth in the identified programs and conduct a landscape study of available programs in the Greater Kansas City area. Findings will be analyzed for both program quality improvement purposes and applied research to determine benefits of the interventions. Unusual Features The United Way has elected to invest in this project as a direct way to address poverty, in addition to funding other community-based programs. Partnership with the Weikart Center allows the replication of an evidence-based curricular and assessment approach in Kansas City. Youth outcome surveys accompany on-site observational assessments of programs and a landscape study of youth development programs in the metro area. Coaching occurs between pre/post program assessments to determine changes. Expected Benefits It is anticipated that quality of youth development programs in Kansas City will improve due to their self-assessments and external assessments and coaching provided for staff and administration; that youth development staff will access training and increase their competencies and youth development credentials; and that youth will demonstrate benefits to program participation. The Role of the Institute for Human Development IHD faculty, staff, and consultants conduct external assessments of participating programs. They participate on the leadership team in overall project design. The collaborate with the United Way of Greater Kansas City, the Weikart Center, the University of Kansas, and the Francis Institute in the publishing of findings. During FY 2011 and FY 2012, IHD staff and University of Kansas staff also conducted a process evaluation to determine the next steps for the initiative. Key informant interviews of site coordinators and focus groups of front-line staff were conducted, and the transcripts were analyzed. The final report notes the benefits, the lessons learned, and implications of the work conducted to date.

"out-of-school-time" "program quality improvement" "coaching"

Performing Research or Evaluation

Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Empowerment Zone, Urban

Mulit-County, Regional

N/A