Overview
The David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality partners with networks of youth programs to implement evidence-based quality improvement and accountability systems. Our research projects complement these place-based initiatives. In addition, we have a long tradition of strengthening place-based intermediaries and providing technical support to national partnerships like Ready by 21®.
Place-based projects include:
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National: Camp Fire USA; 4-H; Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR); American Camp Association (ACA)
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Statewide: Kentucky; Rhode Island; Maine; Michigan; Minnesota; New Mexico; New York; Washington
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City or countywide: Austin, TX; Baltimore, MD; Black Oak Mine, CA; Chicago, IL; Columbus, IN; Grand Rapids, MI; Indianapolis, IN; Kansas City, MO; Lansing, MI; Louisville, KY; Montgomery County, MD; Nashville, TN; Orange County, NY; Palm Beach County, FL; Providence, RI; Seattle, WA; St. Louis, MO; Tulsa, OK
Quality Improvement Case Studies
National
- Camp Fire USA - Program Quality Assessment and Improvement Process
Statewide
- Michigan - Demonstration System: Statewide 21st CCLC quality improvement system with comprehensive support services.
- Chicago - Out-of-school time project
- Oklahoma - Oklahoma Department of Education and Oklahoma Afterschool Network
Regionally Based
- Palm Beach County, Florida - Prime Time PBC
- Providence, Rhode Island - Providence Afterschool Alliance
- The Georgetown Divide, California- The Georgetown Divide
- Nashville, TN - Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA)
- Kansas City - United Way led Quality Matters initiative
Organization-based
Youth Driven Spaces Initiative
Research
Studies
- Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI) Randomized Controlled Trial
- Youth Program Quality Assessment (Youth PQA) Validation Study
Assessment Tool Development
Statewide Evaluation Work
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Washington
