Evaluating Youth Programs: An Overview of Practitioner Led Evaluations

In: Journal of youth development: JYD : bridging research and practice, Band 5, Heft 1, S. 112-117

Open Access

Abstract

Youth programs are prime contexts for the intentional facilitation of positive development. However, not all youth programs achieve positive outcomes equally. In order to promote the identification and dissemination of the characteristics and processes of effective youth programs, increased focus needs to be given to program evaluation. This article briefly reviews the main tenets of evaluation science in order to provide practitioners a roadmap for conducting their own evaluations. This includes an overview of different types of evaluations and key issues to consider when constructing an evaluation strategy such as targeting outcomes and developing program logic models.