| Session Title: Connecting Research and Implementation to Enhance Youth Development Programming |
| Multipaper Session 845 to be held in Edgar Allen Poe Room on Saturday, November 10, 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Extension Education Evaluation TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Melissa Cater, Louisiana State University, mcater@agcenter.lsu.edu |
| Abstract: As youth development organizations design and implement programs, it becomes imperative that those programs are evaluated. Louisiana 4-H is attempting to align their youth development program with the Essential Elements of 4-H: Mastery, Belonging, Independence, and Generosity. As such, the program has undertaken to assess and evaluate these elements, and this session will share the results of those evaluations and promising practices and lessons learned from the efforts. |
| High School Youth: What do They Want? |
| Robert Richard, Louisiana State University, rrichard@agcenter.lsu.edu |
| Krisanna Machtmes, Louisiana State University, machtme@lsu.edu |
| A review of Louisiana 4-H club enrollment data indicated that approximately 30% of high school enrollment in a given year is composed of youth enrolling in 4-H for the first time . In addition, approximately 80% of those youth do not rejoin 4-H the following year. Using a separate online survey for each group (those who joined for the first time and those who opted not to rejoin after one year) youth were asked to respond to open ended questions dealing with their participation in 4-H and their perspective of the program Results from this study will be shared with the audience as well as steps being taken by the program to increase the number of youth who remain with the program after joining at the high school level. |
| Evaluating A Youth Development Program for Belonging and Independence |
| Melissa Cater, Louisiana State University, mcater@agcenter.lsu.edu |
| Krisanna Machtmes, Louisiana State University, machtme@lsu.edu |
| Recent research suggests that programs which incorporate opportunities for youth to build a positive relationship with a caring adult and that are safe and inclusive lead to an increased sense of belonging in youth. Additionally, programs that allow youth to have a voice and to have the opportunity to make decisions provide youth with an increased sense of independence. This study will share the results of an evaluation of a program developed to promote belonging and independence. Examination of the data and a tool used to measure youth voice will be reported. |
| Promising Practices for Volunteers for Including Youth Voice in the Decision-making Process |
| Todd Tarifa, Louisiana State University, tatarifa@agcenter.lsu.edu |
| Krisanna Machtmes, Louisiana State University, machtme@lsu.edu |
| This evaluation was aimed at determining the factors that effect the level of inclusiveness of youth voice in the decision-making process in the 4-H youth development program. State and field level 4-H professionals identified potential factors that effect youth voice in the decision-making process. The information gathered was utilized in identifying the level of inclusiveness of youth voice in the decision-making process to better understand how to suit youth's needs, identify promising practices, and barriers. When examining 4-H youth development professional's perceptions they considered the following factors: the level in which both youth and adults share responsibility, lack of transportation, the ability of youth and adults to work in partnership, the opportunity for youth to develop a caring relationship with adults, an adult's expectations of youth roles within the 4-H program, youth's expectations of adult roles within the 4-H program, the level in which the organization accepts youth involvement in the decision- making process, and youth having too many scheduling conflicts. This presentation will aid youth development professionals in identifying issues that limit youth voice in the decision-making process and developing promising practices that will aid them in assuring that the 4-H program actively encourages youth involvement at all levels of the decision-making process. |
| The Questioning Mind: Utilizing Reflection to Promote Critical Thinking |
| Janet Fox, Louisiana State University, jfox@agcenter.lsu.edu |
| Melissa Cater, Louisiana State University, mcater@agcenter.lsu.edu |
| In today's world, youth often look for instant solutions to complex problems. Reflection is an important means by which students integrate prior knowledge and experiences with new experiences to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Reflection in service-learning provides students and teachers a way to look back at their experiences, evaluate them, and apply what is learned to future experiences. Through reflection, students build skills for analyzing and solving problems and developing creative solutions. Reflective activities that are designed well and implemented thoughtfully allow students to acquire a deeper understanding of the world around them and of how they can make positive contributions to society. Based on practical experience coupled with a research-based foundation, this session will focus on the lessons learned and the elements needed to prepare an organization, youth and adult evaluators for successful reflection either in a service-learning project or in an evaluation project. |
| Now What? We Have the Pieces. Can We Complete the Puzzle? |
| Karol Osborne, Louisiana State University, kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu |
| Melissa Cater, Louisiana State University, mcater@agcenter.lsu.edu |
| Robert Richard, Louisiana State University, rrichard@agcenter.lsu.edu |
| This paper will present a synthesis of the lessons learned from other presentations in this session and indicate how those lessons will be used as part of the program development process to enhance youth development programming at the local level. The implications for statewide programming efforts will also be shared. |