Project #UR138
Project Number: UR138
Project Title: Youth Empowerment Solutions
Faculty Sponsor: Susan Frazen
Department: Health Behavior and Health Education/School of Public Health, UM-Ann Arbor
Telephone: 810-239-3463
E-Mail: sfranzen@umich.edu
Proposed Starting Date: 09/05/2012
Proposed Ending Date: 09/05/2013
Student in mind: No
Number of hours to work per week: 7-10 hours
Project Description: YES is a longitudinal randomized controlled trial that compares 6th, 7th and 8th graders assigned to an after-school program that includes training in leadership, community development and implementing community-improvement projects with 6th, 7th and 8th graders assigned to standard after-school programs. Youth Empowerment Solutions for Positive Youth Development (YES) includes a 16 week after-school curriculum. YES uses an empowering ecologically-focused, community-based strategy to promote positive youth development and reduce risk behavior. The YES program focuses on developing leadership skills, community pride, program planning, and resource mobilization. The YES program also trains local adult volunteers to assist and mentor youth while implementing the youth-planned community improvement projects. The study takes place at eight public middle schools in Flint, MI and surrounding Genesee County.
Outcome assessments include a pretest in the Fall 3 posttests (Spring; Fall; Spring). The conceptual model to be tested suggests that the YES program will enhance youth empowerment, which will result in more positive developmental outcomes and fewer problem behaviors compared to standard programming.
Study aims are to: 1) implement and evaluate an empirically developed intervention for empowering 6th, 7th and 8th grade youth (YES) using a randomized controlled trial design in a high risk sample; 2) test a conceptual model that posits a causal relationship from youth empowerment processes to positive youth development outcomes; and 3) follow youth over time to assess sustainability of gains in healthy development.
Student Tasks & Responsibilities:
1) Conduct Fidelity Assessments of program sessions
2) enter data
3) Work with program director as needed
4)Conduct surveys with YES youth
Minimum Student Qualifications: High attention to detail. SPSS helpful. More hours available for right person.