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Chapter 1 - What is Eva's Phoenix?
Chapter 2 - Eva's National Initiative
Chapter 3 - Homeless Youth - Who Are They?
Chapter 4 - Effective Programs
for Homeless Youth
Chapter 5 - Developing the Vision
for Eva's Phoenix
Chapter 6 - Turning the Vision into Reality
Chapter 7 - Developing Strategic Partnerships
Chapter 8 - Working with Funders
Chapter 9 - Youth Goal-Setting and
Case Management Approach
Chapter 10 - Working with Youth
Chapter 11 - Mentorship
Chapter 12 - Working with Staff
Chapter 13 - Making the Transition
to Community
Chapter 14 - Social Enterprise
Chapter 15 - Evaluation
Chapter 16 - Policies and Procedures

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Chapter 4 - Effective Programs for Homeless Youth:
What do we know about what works?

section:  1  2  
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sub-section:a  b  c  d  

SUMMARIES OF FOUR REVIEWS OF
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Assessment

“Effective Practices Criteria Workbook: Building Quality Programs for America’s Youth”

Prepared by: The Promising and Effective Practices Network (PEPNet) (2002)

Introduction to PEPNet

The Promising and Effective Practices Network (PEPNet) is a national resource on what works in youth employment and development (providing information and materials based on practices and research in the field, offering youth initiatives, policy makers and funders a knowledge base of effective strategies and approaches; opportunities for professional development and networking; and a capacity-building process of self assessment and continuous improvement).

As a major voice for community-based organizations in youth employment/development it strives to:

  • develop and improve the capacity and effectiveness of youth-serving organizations to affect youth development through employment, education and training;
  • improve the staff and leadership capacity of youth serving organizations; and
  • influence and inform the development of public policy through research, information, advocacy and coalition-building.

How Practitioners can use PEPNet:

Practitioners who want to make their youth employment and development initiatives more effective can use the PEPNet Criteria to:

  • Learn what works;
  • Document success;
  • Plan improvements;
  • Get recognition;
  • Share information;
  • Contribute to a database of effective practice; and
  • Inform the development of new programs.

PEPNet’s resources and tools can also be used to:

  • Gain a clear picture of what a quality program is
  • Spur discussion and community consensus
  • Ensure policies are coherent and viable
  • Develop a youth plan that includes nationally recognized practices that work
  • Improve review and selection
  • Facilitate contracting and oversight
  • Identify technical assistance needs
  • Offer professional development opportunities
  • Enhance organizational governance
  • Inform the development of criteria to guide decisions regarding funding, accreditation or service delivery
  • Improve the assessment and selection of youth initiatives for funders
  • Ensure policies are coherent and viable
  • Help initiatives increase capacity
  • Identify areas for technical support

Document Contents:

Essentially the workbook acts as a template for developing and evaluating youth employment programs, providing helpful tips (e.g., from how to get started to suggestions for gathering qualitative data) and examples of initiatives that have been successful. Looks quite useful within a wide variety of situations (i.e., although American, it appears to be very applicable to the Canadian context). Also contains helpful charts for Self-Assessment/Evaluation.

It contains examples from practitioners, funders, workforce investment agencies and other policymakers and is a tool/resource on effective practices, but you should consult PEPNet’s website for more details of initiatives on effective practice organized under the PEPNet criteria. (OPENS NEW WINDOW)

Improvement Process for Programs

  • step-by-step explanation of PEPNet’s continuous improvement cycle for program development
  • a seven step cyclical process of continuous improvement (see chart on pg. 15) that incorporates self assessment, reflection and planning, capacity building, external assessment/peer review, recognition and, again, self assessment
  • has an Improvement Process Flow Chart and explains the benefits of participation

PEPNet Criteria for Effective Practices

  • detailed explanation of PEPNet’s Criteria, based on research and practice
  • organized into five broad “Categories” (Purpose and Activities, Organization and Management, Youth Development, Workforce Development, Evidence of Success), the Criteria were developed by a diverse working group of youth professionals who believed the criteria reflect key elements that contribute to effective programming
  • these have been reinforced and refined by seven years of experience

1. Purpose and Activities

2. Organization and Management

(Leadership; Staff Development; Collaboration; Continuous Improvement; Funding)

3. Youth Development

(Youth/Adult Relationships; Building Youths’ Responsibility and Leadership Skills; Individual Focus and Age/Stage; Appropriate Outlook; Family and Peer Support; Supportive Services and Opportunities; Building Sense of Self and of Group)

4. Workforce Development

(Career Awareness, Planning and Readiness; Employer Engagement; Work and Learning Connection; Competencies Emphasis; Extended Follow-up)

5. Evidence of Success

(Descriptive Data; Outcome Data; Comparative Measures)

PEPNet Self Assessment

  • a process by which an initiative answers the question, “Where are we?”
  • a set of questions an initiative can use to examine itself and diagnose its quality at any time, as well as to document successes and plan improvements
  • includes a Self Assessment Matrix

PEPNet 2003 Recognition

  • process, timetable and tips for applying for PEPNet recognition and peer review
  • tips on demonstrating evidence of effectiveness and benefits of recognition

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