MORE Things That DO Make a Difference for Youth

A Forum — June 14, 1999

AYPF just released "MORE Things That DO Make a Difference for Youth: A Compendium of Evaluations of Youth Programs and Practices, Volume II." This volume contains 46 easy-to-read, up-to-date summaries of positive program evaluations in the youth development field. This handy resource guide follows the widely-acclaimed 1997 publication of Volume I: "Some Things Do Make a Difference for Youth: A Compendium of Evaluations of Youth Programs and Practices."

Donna Walker James, Senior Program Associate, American Youth Policy Forum, who edited the publication, explains that the entrees within the Compendium are divided into three categories: 1) Education and Career Development, 2) Building Strong Communities, and 3) Others of Interest. The criteria for inclusion were a focus on positive outcomes for youth ages 14-29, including data on employment, earnings and academic achievement. An emphasis was placed on high quality evaluations using control/comparison groups or other sound evaluation methods.

Nine basic principles most frequently mentioned by evaluators contributed to the success of the 46 effective youth programs listed in the Compendium. One or more of the following principles was identified in every program evaluation. To be most effective, Ms. James recommends that programs incorporate as many as possible.

Nine Basic Principles:

• Implementation Quality
• Caring, Knowledgeable Adults
• High Standards and Expectations
• Parent/Guardian Participation
• Importance of Community
• Holistic Approach
• Youth as Resources/Community Service and Service-Learning
• Work-Based Learning
• Long Term Services/Support and Follow-Up

The Introduction to Compendium II provides a full description of each of these basic principles as identified by the evaluators.

Joanne Jastrzab, Senior Research Associate, Abt Associates, Inc., suggests ways that practitioners, researchers, and others in the youth field can use the Compendia. For practitioners the volumes are user-friendly, providing easy access to evaluations, findings and best practices. They also stress to practitioners the importance and value of conducting quality evaluations. In addition to these uses, researchers are provided with the latest evaluation methodologies/techniques. The volumes also raise the "quality bar" for evaluation. The youth field as a whole can use the Compendia to promote networking among practitioners and researchers and generate support for quality youth programs. Federal agencies and foundations can use them to verify and refine funding decisions. Jastrzab concludes: "The Compendia are practical and can help a variety of people in the youth community."

Sherry Kaiman, Professional Staff Member for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions emphasizes the need for the Compendium, explaining how it is very useful to her office, which places an emphasis on youth training in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Committee Chairman, Senator James Jeffords, throughout his career, has stressed the importance of program evaluation. He says we "need concrete evaluations to determine what works in legislation." Although there is not a general acceptance for using money on evaluations, Senator Jeffords would like to see more federal funds allocated in that direction. Sen. Jeffords would like to see a percentage of funds in every education/training bill set aside for evaluation. The Committee uses the Compendia to help them make their Workforce Investment Act better. They will use the Compendia as a reference for researching programs that actually "work."

Charles Barone, Legislative Director for Representative George Miller (California) finds the Compendia provide a positive message. Barone noted the public's growing interest in investing in youth "and this is the kind of publication that can guide us in doing that." He explains that Congressional staff members use and read the reports to help them make decisions. The Compendium is something staffers can use easily and quickly, unlike other lengthy, often obtuse resource guides. "I look forward to pulling this off my shelf frequently!"

Lorenzo Harrison, National Director, Office of Job Training Programs, U.S. Department of Labor. (Harrison was the former associate director of a youth program, Support Training Results In Valuable Employment--STRIVE-- featured in Compendium I). He comments: "We are still on a mission of dispelling notions that nothing works with youth and these two Compendia help to dispel that notion." Harrison offers the suggestion that the Compendia "can be used by potential grantees to reference initiatives that have been evaluated." The U.S. Department of Labor will use it as a reference on positive elements of program intervention and in the Youth Opportunity grants bidders' conferences. The information will also be helpful as DOL works with other federal and state agencies on youth development issues. Sharing his own views about the Compendium, he gives praise to AYPF by stating: "It is a neatly put together resource… You should continue warehousing this evaluation information … I can put it to use tomorrow."

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