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Related Experiment Videos

Recruitment and retention strategies for out-of-school-time programs.

Sherri C Lauver1, Priscilla M D Little

  • 1Harvard Family Research Project, USA.

New Directions for Youth Development
|June 10, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Effective out-of-school-time (OST) programs require quality components like safety, committed staff, and engaging activities. Strategies focus on meeting participant needs, demonstrating value, direct outreach, peer recruitment, and retaining youth through incentives and leadership opportunities.

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Area of Science:

  • Youth Development Programs
  • Program Evaluation
  • Educational Psychology

Background:

  • Out-of-school-time (OST) programs aim to provide developmental benefits to youth.
  • Practitioners face challenges in maximizing enrollment, participation frequency, and retention.
  • Program quality is crucial for realizing OST program benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key program quality areas supporting OST recruitment and retention.
  • To review and present promising recruitment strategies for OST programs.
  • To outline effective strategies for enhancing regular participation and long-term retention in OST programs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of over sixty OST evaluations.
  • Synthesis of findings on program quality, recruitment, and retention strategies.

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  • Identification of evidence-based practices from evaluation data.

    • Main Results:

    • Key program quality elements include safety, community, committed staff, and age-appropriate activities.
    • Five recruitment strategies: matching needs, demonstrating value, direct outreach, peer circles, and targeting at-risk youth.
    • Five retention strategies: emphasizing attendance, setting goals, balancing activities, using incentives, and offering leadership/employment.

    Conclusions:

    • Program quality is foundational for successful youth recruitment and retention in OST settings.
    • A multi-faceted approach combining targeted recruitment and sustained engagement strategies is effective.
    • Implementing these evidence-based strategies can enhance the impact and reach of OST programs.