IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/epplan/v49y2015icp31-40.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Putting program evaluation into practice: Enhancing the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun program

Author

Listed:
  • Bean, Corliss N.
  • Kendellen, Kelsey
  • Halsall, Tanya
  • Forneris, Tanya

Abstract

In recent years there has been a call for increased community physical activity and sport programs for female youth that are deliberately structured to foster positive developmental outcomes. In addition, researchers have recognized the need to empirically evaluate such programs to ensure that youth are provided with optimal opportunities to thrive. This study represents a utilization-focused evaluation of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, a female-only physical activity-based life skills community program. A utilization-focused evaluation is particularly important when the evaluation is to help stakeholders utilize the findings in practice. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to gain an understanding of the ongoing successes and challenges after year two of program implementation and (b) to examine how the adaptations made based on feedback from the first year evaluation were perceived as impacting the program. From interviews with youth participants and program leaders, three main themes with eight sub-themes emerged. The main themes were: (a) applying lessons learned can make a significant difference, (b) continually implementing successful strategies, and (c) ongoing challenges. Overall, this evaluation represents an important step in understanding how to improve program delivery to better meet the needs of the participants in community-based programing.

Suggested Citation

  • Bean, Corliss N. & Kendellen, Kelsey & Halsall, Tanya & Forneris, Tanya, 2015. "Putting program evaluation into practice: Enhancing the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun program," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 31-40.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:49:y:2015:i:c:p:31-40
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2014.11.007
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149718914001293
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2014.11.007?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. repec:mpr:mprres:3655 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Mark Dynarski & Susanne James-Burdumy & Mary Moore & Linda Rosenberg & John Deke & Wendy Mansfield, "undated". "When Schools Stay Open Late: The National Evaluation of the 21st-Century Community Learning Centers Program, New Findings," Mathematica Policy Research Reports c78bef58be334cd287908403c, Mathematica Policy Research.
    3. Myles Maxfield & Allen Schirm & Nuria Rodriguez-Planas, 2003. "The Quantum Opportunity Program Demonstration: Implementation and Short-Term Impacts," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 4ca5797760784df6a647d1131, Mathematica Policy Research.
    4. repec:mpr:mprres:4551 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Myles Maxfield & Laura Castner & Vida Maralani & Mary Vencill, 2003. "The Quantum Opportunity Program Demonstration: Implementation Findings," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 454e8a1ad16943249a9f9577d, Mathematica Policy Research.
    6. Susanne James-Burdumy & Mark Dynarski & Mary Moore & John Deke & Wendy Mansfield & Carol Pistorino, "undated". "When Schools Stay Open Late: The National Evaluation of the 21st-Century Community Learning Centers Program," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 86c8d763ea6c4acebca8464c5, Mathematica Policy Research.
    7. repec:mpr:mprres:3656 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. repec:mpr:mprres:4230 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. repec:mpr:mprres:4235 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Susanne James-Burdumy & Mark Dynarski & John Deke, 2005. "When Elementary Schools Stay Open Late: Results from The National Evaluation of the 21st-Century Community Learning Centers Program," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 747640229207407f9f0f09abf, Mathematica Policy Research.
    11. Allen Schirm & Nuria Rodriguez-Planas & Myles Maxfield & Christina Clark Tuttle, 2003. "The Quantum Opportunity Program Demonstration: Short-Term Impacts," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 3bb786088fbe413b8ea3fd69a, Mathematica Policy Research.
    12. repec:mpr:mprres:4871 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. repec:mpr:mprres:3525 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Patton, Michael Quinn, 1984. "An alternative evaluation approach for the problem-solving training program: A utilization-focused evaluation process," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 189-192, January.
    15. Patton, Michael Quinn & Horton, Douglas, 2008. "Utilization-focused evaluation for agricultural innovation," ILAC Briefs 52533, Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC) Initiative.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bean, Corliss & Harlow, Meghan & Kendellen, Kelsey, 2017. "Strategies for fostering basic psychological needs support in high quality youth leadership programs," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 76-85.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Patrick Tolan & David Henry & Michael Schoeny & Arin Bass & Peter Lovegrove & Emily Nichols, 2013. "Mentoring Interventions to Affect Juvenile Delinquency and Associated Problems: A Systematic Review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 9(1), pages 1-158.
    2. Allen Schirm & Elizabeth Stuart & Allison McKie, "undated". "The Quantum Opportunity Program Demonstration: Final Impacts," Mathematica Policy Research Reports ac481c0313ec4f7bbf036f563, Mathematica Policy Research.
    3. Rodríguez-Planas, Núria, 2017. "School, drugs, mentoring, and peers: Evidence from a randomized trial in the US," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 166-181.
    4. Susanne James-Burdumy & Mark Dynarski & John Deke, 2005. "When Elementary Schools Stay Open Late: Results from The National Evaluation of the 21st-Century Community Learning Centers Program," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 747640229207407f9f0f09abf, Mathematica Policy Research.
    5. Matthew A. Kraft, 2014. "How to Make Additional Time Matter: Integrating Individualized Tutorials into an Extended Day," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 10(1), pages 81-116, November.
    6. Rodríguez-Planas, Núria, 2010. "Longer-Term Impacts of Mentoring, Educational Services, and Incentives to Learn: Evidence from a Randomized Trial," IZA Discussion Papers 4754, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Cabrera Hernández, Francisco-Javier, 2016. "Essays on the impact evaluation of education policies in Mexico," Economics PhD Theses 0316, Department of Economics, University of Sussex Business School.
    8. Peter Z. Schochet & Hanley Chiang, "undated". "Technical Methods Report: Estimation and Identification of the Complier Average Causal Effect Parameter in Education RCTs," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 947d1823e3ff42208532a763d, Mathematica Policy Research.
    9. Núria Rodríquez-Planas, 2010. "Mentoring, Educational Services, and Economic Incentives Longer-term Evidence on Risky Behaviors from a Randomized Trial," Working Papers 462, Barcelona School of Economics.
    10. Neil Seftor, "undated". "What Does It Mean When a Study Finds No Effects?," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 9816e95ac76d4ece98f74e014, Mathematica Policy Research.
    11. Patrick Tolan & David Henry & Michael Schoeny & Arin Bass, 2008. "Mentoring Interventions to Affect Juvenile Delinquency and Associated Problems," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 4(1), pages 1-112.
    12. Bloomer, Rebecka & Brown, Aishia A. & Winters, Andrew M. & Domiray, Anna, 2021. "“Trying to be everything else”: Examining the challenges experienced by youth development workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    13. Jenson, Jeffrey M. & Veeh, Christopher & Anyon, Yolanda & St. Mary, Jason & Calhoun, Molly & Tejada, Jacqueline & Lechuga-Peña, Stephanie, 2018. "Effects of an afterschool program on the academic outcomes of children and youth residing in public housing neighborhoods: A quasi-experimental study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 211-217.
    14. Larry L. Orr, 2015. "2014 Rossi Award Lecture," Evaluation Review, , vol. 39(2), pages 167-178, April.
    15. Matthew Morton & Paul Montgomery, 2011. "Youth Empowerment Programs for Improving Self‐Efficacy and Self‐Esteem of Adolescents," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 7(1), pages 1-80.
    16. Lisa Dragoset & Jaime Thomas & Mariesa Herrmann & John Deke & Susanne James-Burdumy & Cheryl Graczewski & Andrea Boyle & Rachel Upton & Courtney Tanenbaum & Jessica Giffin, "undated". "School Improvement Grants: Implementation and Effectiveness (Final Report)," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 76bce3f4bb0944f29a481fae0, Mathematica Policy Research.
    17. John Deke & Hanley Chiang, 2017. "The WWC Attrition Standard," Evaluation Review, , vol. 41(2), pages 130-154, April.
    18. Arellano, Alexandra & Halsall, Tanya & Forneris, Tanya & Gaudet, Cindy, 2018. "Results of a utilization-focused evaluation of a Right To Play program for Indigenous youth," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 156-164.
    19. Colvin, Sharon & White, Annie M. & Akiva, Thomas & Wardrip, Peter S., 2020. "What do you think youth workers do? A comparative case study of library and afterschool workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    20. Francisco Cabrera-Hernandez, 2015. "Does lengthening the school day increase students’ academic achievement? Evidence from a natural experiment," Working Paper Series 7415, Department of Economics, University of Sussex Business School.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:49:y:2015:i:c:p:31-40. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/evalprogplan .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.