134
for using the forms with youth were also carefully explained to each supervisor. These and
other areas are typically not developed in organizations that are not affiliated with universities or
research institutions. Developing the infrastructure to collect these indicators was more expensive than anticipated and required more time,
training, and support staff.
10.7 Gathering Data Using
Common Indicators
from Un-common YouthServing Nonprofits
The commonality for all cohort members was
that they had youth-driven enterprises and used
the YSE model. These programs varied widely in
terms of size and enterprise activity. Of the initial
14 programs (12 organizations) that participated
in the YSE research study, 11 are included in this
analysis. Programs vary: 6 have less than 25 staff
members, while 2 programs have more than 100
staff members; 9 are located in Minneapolis with
2 in St. Paul, and 7 programs employ youth for
more than 5 months. Due to variations in their
programming and their initial data capacity, the
number of youth assessed by each program as
part of the evaluation varied substantially (4–196
youth) (Fig. 10.4).
From September 2016 through August 2018,
programs implemented the group instruments in
accordance with the protocols. As a result, across
all programs, 46% of youth (n = 412) were
assessed using the Work Readiness assessment,
and 58% of youth (n = 519) completed the Youth
Retrospective Survey.
10.8 Replication of the Study
for Reliability
From September 2017 through August 2018, 11
YSE programs replicated the study with 889
youth. Data was limited to youth age 13–24.
Programs range in size, serving between 12 and
286 youth during that 2-year period, with some
offering only summer programming.
About half of youth were identified as male
and half as female, with one program serving
only women. Most youth (81%) were 14–17; all
programs served this age range. The average age
was 16. Twenty percent were young adults age
18–24, with most programs (8 of 11) serving this
older group. Younger teens and Black youth are
more represented in the Work Readiness results.
This is in part due to the fact that one particular
program that served older youth had difficultly
completing their post-assessments.
All programs served racially diverse youth.
About half of the youth served were identified as
Black, African American, or African (54%) and
were represented in all 11 programs. Youth next
most commonly identified were White or
Caucasian (18%), Asian or Asian-American
(14%), American Indian or Alaska Native (5%),
and Hispanic or Latinx (3%). The other youth
represented a variety of racial groups, with the
programs themselves serving different ethnic,
racial, or cultural groups of low-income youth.
10.9 Outcomes
At the end of data collection in September 2018,
864 youth had participated in their respective
YSE program up to 746 days (2 years), with an
average of 114 days (3.7 months). During the
24-month period, staff at 10 of the 11 YSE programs assessed youth at least twice on 12 Work
Readiness skills using the tool modified from the
existing survey (US Department of Labor, 1998).
A total of 412 youth were included in the analysis
ranging from 8 to 152 youth per program.
Researchers limited the analysis of Work
Readiness assessments to initial assessments that
were completed between 1 and 30 days upon program entry so that scores would represent a true
baseline. Youth with an initial baseline assessment of over a month after starting the program
were excluded from this analysis. As a result, the
youth (n = 412) with a valid pre-assessment had
P. Thomas et al.
for using the forms with youth were also carefully explained to each supervisor. These and
other areas are typically not developed in organizations that are not affiliated with universities or
research institutions. Developing the infrastructure to collect these indicators was more expensive than anticipated and required more time,
training, and support staff.
10.7 Gathering Data Using
Common Indicators
from Un-common YouthServing Nonprofits
The commonality for all cohort members was
that they had youth-driven enterprises and used
the YSE model. These programs varied widely in
terms of size and enterprise activity. Of the initial
14 programs (12 organizations) that participated
in the YSE research study, 11 are included in this
analysis. Programs vary: 6 have less than 25 staff
members, while 2 programs have more than 100
staff members; 9 are located in Minneapolis with
2 in St. Paul, and 7 programs employ youth for
more than 5 months. Due to variations in their
programming and their initial data capacity, the
number of youth assessed by each program as
part of the evaluation varied substantially (4–196
youth) (Fig. 10.4).
From September 2016 through August 2018,
programs implemented the group instruments in
accordance with the protocols. As a result, across
all programs, 46% of youth (n = 412) were
assessed using the Work Readiness assessment,
and 58% of youth (n = 519) completed the Youth
Retrospective Survey.
10.8 Replication of the Study
for Reliability
From September 2017 through August 2018, 11
YSE programs replicated the study with 889
youth. Data was limited to youth age 13–24.
Programs range in size, serving between 12 and
286 youth during that 2-year period, with some
offering only summer programming.
About half of youth were identified as male
and half as female, with one program serving
only women. Most youth (81%) were 14–17; all
programs served this age range. The average age
was 16. Twenty percent were young adults age
18–24, with most programs (8 of 11) serving this
older group. Younger teens and Black youth are
more represented in the Work Readiness results.
This is in part due to the fact that one particular
program that served older youth had difficultly
completing their post-assessments.
All programs served racially diverse youth.
About half of the youth served were identified as
Black, African American, or African (54%) and
were represented in all 11 programs. Youth next
most commonly identified were White or
Caucasian (18%), Asian or Asian-American
(14%), American Indian or Alaska Native (5%),
and Hispanic or Latinx (3%). The other youth
represented a variety of racial groups, with the
programs themselves serving different ethnic,
racial, or cultural groups of low-income youth.
10.9 Outcomes
At the end of data collection in September 2018,
864 youth had participated in their respective
YSE program up to 746 days (2 years), with an
average of 114 days (3.7 months). During the
24-month period, staff at 10 of the 11 YSE programs assessed youth at least twice on 12 Work
Readiness skills using the tool modified from the
existing survey (US Department of Labor, 1998).
A total of 412 youth were included in the analysis
ranging from 8 to 152 youth per program.
Researchers limited the analysis of Work
Readiness assessments to initial assessments that
were completed between 1 and 30 days upon program entry so that scores would represent a true
baseline. Youth with an initial baseline assessment of over a month after starting the program
were excluded from this analysis. As a result, the
youth (n = 412) with a valid pre-assessment had
P. Thomas et al.