The components of quality in youth programs and association with positive youth outcomes: A person-centered approach. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gliske, Kate; Ballard, Jaime; Buchanan, Gretchen; Borden, Lynne; Perkins, Daniel Francis
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 120(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Program quality -- Youth development programs -- At-risk youth -- Person-centered; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105696
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Highlights: One class of youth programs had high quality and high safety and fairness. Two classes of youth programs had mixed quality, safety, and fairness. Youth in programs with high safety and fairness had higher levels of caring. Youth still benefit from participation in programs of mixed quality. Safety and fairness may be key components of program quality not included in some models. Abstract: Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to explore heterogeneity in experience of program quality among 2120 at-risk youth participating in youth development programs across the United States and to assess the associations of LCA membership to several youth outcomes. Among all participating youth, three classes emerged with varying levels of youth experiences of quality, including High Program Quality & High Safety and Fairness (82.78%), High/Mixed Program Quality & Low Safety and Fairness class (8.98%) and Low/Mixed Program Quality & High/Mixed Safety and Fairness class (8.24%).Youth who reported experiencing fairness and safety despite poor other program quality components had significantly higher levels of caring relative to youth in the High Program Quality & Low Fairness and Safety class. Results suggest youth may still benefit from participation in programs that they experience as having mixed quality. Fairness and safety may be key components of program quality not currently included in some models.