An April 2009 report from Child Trends Research Briefs summarizes an analysis of the data from the Every Child Every Promise Study conducted by America's Promise Alliance (Moore, Whitney & Kinukawa). The study focused on lower income families, however the findings were similar for all families regardless of income. The study examined four types of family strengths using data on adolescents, ages 12-17, from families with incomes below $50,000:
1. Close and caring parenting
2. Parental monitoring, supervision and awareness
3. Parental involvement
4. Positive parental role modeling
Findings related to performance in school, social competence and participation in risky behaviors are summarized in the report. Why is this important? The study supports CYFAR (Children, Youth and Families At-Risk) program strategies that promote family involvement in youth programs and foster parenting skills related to responsible monitoring of children's behavior.
For more information, go to:
http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2009_04_16_RB_FamilyStrengths.pdf
A 4-H curriculum from Nebraska is one of 4 evidence-based programs selected for after-school programs by Great Science for Girls: Extension Services for Gender Equity in Science through After-School Programs (GSG), a partnership led by the Educational Equity Center at the Academy for Educational Development (EEC/AED) with AED Center for Youth Development and Policy Research (CYD) and the AED National Training Institute for Community Youth Work (NTI). GSG was funded by NSF in 2006 as a 5-year initiative to build the capacity of after-school centers to delivery programming that will broaden and sustain girls' interest in STEM. The 4 evidence based programs include:
1. Wonderwise 4-H - ages 8-12 - wasdeveloped by The University of Nebraska State Museum and Nebraska 4-H Youth Development with funding from the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
2. After-School Science PLUS, for ages 6-14, was developed by Educational Equity Concepts, Inc. with funding from the National Science Foundation Program for Gender Equity and a variety of local New York City funders.
3. Girls at the Center, for ages 6-14, was developed by The Franklin Institute Science Museum in collaboration with Girl Scouts of the USA, with funding from the National Science Foundation.
4. Girls Inc Operation SMART, for ages 5-6 through 18, was developed by Girls Incorporated® with funding from National Science Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Coca Cola Foundation, CREW Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Verizon Communications, Lucent Technology Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities and many others.
These programs were professionally evaluated and show positive outcomes related to girls and STEM. Other programs will be added as they meet the criteria of evidence-based programs set by the Great Science for Girls project. Those criteria are found on the web site listed above. To learn more go to:
http://gsg.afterschool.org/public/evidence_based.cfm?Size=2