Challenges and Strategies for Conducting Program-Based Research in After-School Settings

Bender, Kimberly; Brisson, Daniel; Jenson, Jeffrey M.; Forrest-Bank, Shandra S.; Lopez, Amy; Yoder, Jamie

doi:10.1007/s10560-011-0236-y

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…A consensus in literature supports the importance of collaboration between evaluators and service providers as well as other stakeholders. According to some scholars, good partnerships can influence the quality of the overall evaluation and the research findings (Bender et al, 2011; e.g., Bullock et al, 2012).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers should be sensitive about any additional responsibility that evaluation could impose on providers (McPherson et al, 2017). To increase staff buy-in, some scholars have even suggested involving the practitioners in the selection of study outcomes (Bender et al, 2011; Taut & Alkin, 2003). Indeed, PI incorporated that very strategy in the focal evaluation, the therapists were eager to participate, and it seemingly increased their engagement.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating a Functional Family Therapy Intervention: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Celinska

2021

Research on Social Work Practice

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Purpose: This case study is the introspective account of the evaluation process of Functional Family Therapy (FFT) as implemented in Middlesex County in New Jersey between 2005 and 2011. The study presents challenges and issues in evaluation falling into three main categories. Methods: The case study is based on the recollections and documented experiences of the author who was responsible for all major aspects of the evaluation including designing the study, collecting the data, and handling daily evaluation activities. Results: The author differentiated among three main categories of challenges. In respect to research design, the relative merits of experimental versus nonexperimental designs and quantitative versus qualitative research methods are discussed. The second set of issues involves developing and exercising the social competence skills necessary to form working partnerships with service providers. The third set encompasses logistical barriers encountered during daily evaluation activities. Conclusions: The challenges and lessons learned from conducting the outcome evaluation of FFT are situated within scholarly debates on evaluation research, with the goal of providing further insights into the on-the-ground implementation and process of program evaluations. The experiences, recollections and processes illustrate challenges and solutions applicable to evaluations of other family-based violence prevention interventions.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating a Functional Family Therapy Intervention: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Celinska

2021

Research on Social Work Practice

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“…The program's interventions are guided by the 5Cs of PYD developed by Lerner and colleagues (2005). A detailed description of the specified programs, objectives, and goals of the Bridge Project are available (see Anthony, Alter, & Jenson, 2009;Bender et al, 2011;Jenson et al, 2013).…”

Section: Methods Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and Validation of a Positive Youth Development Measure

Lopez

Yoder

Brisson

et al. 2014

Research on Social Work Practice

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Objective: Positive Youth Development (PYD) is a resilience-based framework that accentuates positive traits in youth. PYD constructs are characteristics that are hypothesized to promote healthy development. However, measures to assess PYD constructs are lacking. Methods: An instrument was created to assess PYD. One hundred and forty youth between the age of 7 and 18 (M ¼ 11.6) completed the measure over five time points. Data were then analyzed using psychometric analysis techniques. Results: Findings suggest that the instrument is a reliable measure of PYD. The scale shows good reliability, with an overall Cronbach's a of 92. Conclusions: The Bridge-PYD may be a useful tool for program evaluation and the assessment of theoretical constructs in the PYD models. Keywords children and youth, positive youth development, risk and resilience, assessment toolsAntisocial and delinquent behaviors are serious social concerns in the United States. In 2009, approximately 1.5 million delinquency cases were handled in juvenile court, a 30% increase since 1985 (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention [OJJDP], 2012). Of all the delinquency cases in 2009, 52% were held for youth under the age of 16; minority youth represent 36% of these cases. There have also been increases in the juvenile court in the period between 1985 and 2009, with drug offense cases rising by 117%, public order cases by 108%, and person offense cases by 99% (OJJDP, 2012).Unfortunately, young people living in low-income communities are at increased risk for delinquency and other problem behaviors (

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“…There were a number of data-related challenges that we needed to address in designing this study. Complexities of this nature are typical of real-world evaluations, which are often hampered by logistical challenges [46]. For example, the diversity in the BGCW programming made it difficult to determine which participants attended which kind of program and for how long.…”

Section: Study Considerations and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Longitudinal Cohort Study of Participation in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Winnipeg

Enns

Nickel²,

Château³

et al. 2022

IJPDS

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IntroductionOut-of-school or after-school programs are designed to support healthy behaviours, boost academic achievement and strengthen social skills. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg (BGCW) in Manitoba, Canada, have been offering out-of-school programs to children and adolescents in low-income neighbourhoods for more than 40 years. Many BGCW participants face considerable risk of poor health, social and educational outcomes due to challenges they experience at home, in school and in their communities. ObjectiveWe examined whether BGCW participation among children and adolescents aged 5-18 is associated with improved school outcomes and lower risk of justice system encounters and adverse health outcomes. MethodsWe linked de-identified data on BGCW participation for children and adolescents born 1987-2010 to administrative data from the healthcare system, education system, and social services in the Population Research Data Repository, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. The exposure group (n = 8,990$) included children and adolescents who visited BGCW at least once from 2005—2016. The comparison group (n = 69,980) comprised children and adolescents matched on school year and neighbourhood who had never participated in BGCW. ResultsParticipation in BGCW was significantly associated with better scores in grade 3 numeracy and grade 7 student engagement assessments. The risk of justice system encounters among adolescents (aged 12—17) dropped as the frequency of BGCW participation increased, as did justice system encounters among young adults (aged 18—24) who had participated in BGCW as adolescents. The likelihood of teen pregnancy among female adolescents (aged 13—19) and sexually transmitted infections among adolescents (aged 13—19) also declined as the frequency of participation in BGCW increased. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that participation in BGCW is associated with positive outcomes for children and adolescents in multiple domains and despite socioeconomic and family challenges faced by many in this population.

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Challenges and Strategies for Conducting Program-Based Research in After-School Settings

Cited by 11 publications

References 24 publications

Evaluating a Functional Family Therapy Intervention: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Evaluating a Functional Family Therapy Intervention: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Development and Validation of a Positive Youth Development Measure

A Longitudinal Cohort Study of Participation in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Winnipeg

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