Improving Quality Systemwide

October 11, 2012

What is your role in afterschool?

NEW RESOURCE: BUILDING CITYWIDE SYSTEMS FOR QUALITY

NEW resource from The Wallace Foundation and the Forum for Youth Investment, available online:

http://forumfyi.org/building_system_quality

Includes: How-to guide Six case studies Capacity self-assessment tool

TODAYS SPEAKERS
Nicole Yohalem
Director, Special Projects

Charles Smith
Executive Director, CYPQ VP for Research, Forum for Youth Investment

Laura La Fuente
Director, Target Graduation

Denice Williams
Assistant Commissioner

WHY FOCUS ON QUALITY IMPROVEMENT?

Quality Matters

Quality is Measurable
Quality is Malleable

QUALITY MATTERS
In a 2007 meta-analysis of 73 evaluations, afterschool programs on average had positive effects on: Attitudes toward school Social behavior School grades and achievement test scores Reduced problem behaviors from aggression But programs without specific quality features had NO effect.
-Durlak & Weissberg (2007)

QUALITY IS MEASURABLE
Tool & Developer Common Elements of Quality
Youth Engagement Skill-Building Relationships Environment Routines & Structure Behavior Management Organizational Management Family/Community Linkages

Afterschool Program Assessment System

National Institute on Out-of-School Time

Youth Program Quality Assessment

David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality

Youth Program Quality Monitoring Tool

Policy Studies Associates

QUALITY IS MALLEABLE
Key findings from the Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI) Study A continuous quality improvement strategy: Improves program quality (and the more, the better). Works across different types of afterschool systems as well as challenging staffing conditions, and may increase staff tenure. Appears to be sustainable and cost-effective.

- Smith et al (2012) www.cypq.org/ypqi

Improving Quality Systemwide

Charles Smith
Executive Director, Center for Youth Program Quality VP for Research, Forum for Youth Investment

COMPONENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM (QIS)

Shared definition of quality Lead organization Engaged stakeholders Continuous improvement model Information system(s) Guidelines and incentives for participation Adequate resources

BUILDING A QIS: STAGES AND TASKS

How far along are you in building a quality improvement system?

Improving Quality Systemwide

Laura LaFuente
Director, Target Graduation United Way for Greater Austin

HISTORY OF YOUTH PROGRAM QUALITY AT UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTIN:

Fall 2008 Spring 2008 2007
Austins Ready by 21 Coalition awarded Quality Counts grant United Way, Central Texas Afterschool Network and Ready by 21 began building and implementing Austin improvement systems.

First Austin sent first cohort of Methods trainers

United Way trained first set of assessors

Fall 2012
Out-of-School Time Agenda

Since 2008:
294 assessments were conducted 38 organizations were assessed 481 individuals have participated in at least one training 34 individuals were trained as Methods trainers 17 are still active 32 individuals were trained as External Assessors 22 are still active

YOUTH PROGRAM QUALITY INITIATIVE CYCLE OF IMPROVEMENT

Assess Program (External or Self Assessor): Collect data about your program.

More Professional Development: If the plan was successful, have more staff attend the professional development.

Create Improvement Plan: Develop a plan based on collected data.

Assess Program Again (External or Self Assessor): Reassess the program and see if areas have improved.

Attend Professional Development: Staff attends professional development sessions that align with what they want to improve.

Improving Quality Systemwide

Denice Williams
Assistant Commissioner New York City Department of Youth & Community Development

NYC Department of Youth and Community DYCD Out-of-School Time Initiative Development
DYCD funds nonprofits to provide a wide range of high-quality programs including: Adolescent Literacy The Out-of-School Time Initiative Beacon Community Centers Cornerstone Summer Youth Employment TEEN Action/Service Learning

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Elements of the Out-of-School Time System

Quality Services

Evaluation

Capacity Building

INFRASTRUCTURE DYCD Out-of-School Time 2013 Program Orientation

TO SUPPORT QUALITY
New Workscope and Budget Program Quality Monitoring Tool (PQMT), Coaching & Observing for Quality & Annual Evaluation (VENDEX )

DYCD Online

RFP, New Program Design & Required Program Activities

Programs

Professional Development, Technical Assistance & Conferences

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KEY ISSUES IN BUILDING A QIS

1. Stakeholder engagement

2. Clarifying purpose
3. Sustainability

NEW RESOURCE: BUILDING CITYWIDE SYSTEMS FOR QUALITY

NEW resource from The Wallace Foundation and the Forum for Youth Investment, available online:

http://forumfyi.org/building_system_quality

Includes: How-to guide Six case studies Capacity self-assessment tool

Improving Quality Systemwide will be archived at: www.wallacefoundation.org and www.forumfyi.org Please direct follow up questions to: Nicole Yohalem at nicole@forumfyi.org or (202) 207-3344 Thank you for participating!