ACF Youth Demonstration Development Project, 2009-2013
Project Overview
OPRE launched the Youth Demonstration Development Project (YDD) in 2009 to systematically review the current field of research on youth development and successful transition to adulthood. The primary objective of YDD, which is being conducted for OPRE by Mathematica Policy Research and its partner, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, is to develop a conceptual framework that could be applied to existing or new ACF programs to improve the well-being of at-risk youth and increase their ability to become self-sufficient adults and avoid long-term reliance on public assistance. The frameworks will inform decisions by ACF about possible demonstrations and evaluations of innovative approaches to improving outcomes among youth at risk of not achieving self-sufficiency.
Last year, the project released a “Synthesis of Research and Resources to Support At-Risk Youth,” which synthesizes the current state of knowledge related to the transition to adulthood for key ACF populations. During the past year, the project team has refined the conceptual framework and engaged with various stakeholders and its Technical Working Group. In addition, the project team conducted fieldwork in six youth-serving programs to understand how programs’ service models had similarities/differences to the framework developed and learn more about how this framework could be implemented and tested in the sites. The project will conclude with a final conceptual framework report in early 2013.
The points of contact are Emily Jabbour and Erica Zielewski.
