Youth Research & Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX)
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Browsing Youth Research & Evaluation eXchange (YouthREX) by Author "Houwer, Rebecca"
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Item Open Access Bridging Programs: Pathways to Equity in Post-Secondary Education(2016-09) Stol, Jacqueline; Houwer, Rebecca; Todd, SarahThe purpose of this report is to review the evidence related to how well existing PSE bridging programs support and enable underrepresented youth to access, persist, and complete a PSE program. To close the PSE opportunity gap and “move the dial” on PSE access and completion equity, our report is intended to serve as an evidence-based resource for youth-serving organizations and individuals interested in developing and/or evaluating bridging programs. This report provides a point-in-time summary of the evidence-base related to PSE bridging programs. As this field of research evolves, so will the data. As such, this report presents a snapshot of both the academic and grey literature, highlighting promising practices that are evidence-based and that, as a result, provide an important starting point for those interested in program development and/or evaluation. This paper seeks to: review and assess the most effective bridging strategies and/or programs for engaging underrepresented youth in PSE; present evaluated strategies for engaging young people in bridging opportunities and for keeping them engaged and supported after transitioning to PSE; and reflect on the challenges in the delivery of bridging programs and examine case studies of programs that have achieved significant success.Item Open Access Changing Leaders, Leading Change: A Leadership Development Model for Marginalized Youth in Urban Communities(2016-03) Houwer, RebeccaThis report identifies and responds to the demographic urgency for supporting long-term approaches that enable urban youth in marginalized communities to reach their full potential. With particular attention given to addressing the structural effects of marginalization through youth leadership development initiatives, the report surveys current theories and evidence on youth leadership development which it draws on in order to determine key elements of an urban youth leadership development model. It suggests approaches to evaluating the outcomes and impacts of such a model, and identifies critical knowledge gaps where more research is needed.Item Open Access Growing the Grassroots: Strategies for Building the Organizational Capacity of Youth-Led Organizations and Initiatives(2017-12) Alston-O’Connor, Emily; Houwer, RebeccaThe long-term viability of youth-led organizations and initiatives necessitates investment in organizational capacity-building work. By building organizational capacity, grassroots youth-led organizations and initiatives will improve their chances of sustainability by increasing their ability to respond to external and internal needs and demands; connecting grassroots youth-led organizations and initiatives with organizational capacity-building opportunities is essential for strengthening the sector. The purpose of this report is to review, examine, and assess current organizational capacity-building frameworks, present relevant case studies, and offer practical suggestions for building the organizational capacity of grassroots youth-led organizations and initiatives. Due to a lack of literature specific to building the capacity of grassroots youth organizations and initiatives, this report expanded the scope to focus on a general non-profit context. The report presents definitions of organizational capacity-building and models for assessing organizational capacity, and identifies strategies for building organizational capacity. The report concludes by synthesizing the findings and offering recommendations for building the organizational capacity of youth-led organizations and initiatives.Item Open Access Supporting Positive Outcomes for Youth Involved with the Law(2017-03) Kwok, Siu Ming; Houwer, Rebecca; HeavyShield, Heidi; Weatherstone, Rebecca; Tam, DoraThis report reviews literature that helps us understand how to better support positive outcomes for youth involved with the law. The report is meant to serve as a resource and guide for evidence-based practice for programs that work with youth. The report explores the impact of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), the legal statute that governs youth justice programs and systems in Canada. The YCJA's emphasis on using extrajudicial measures to divert first time or less serious and non-violent offenders away from the criminal justice system has successfully shifted the focus of the youth justice system from being more punitive to being more rehabilitative. Nonetheless, the YCJA is only regarded as a “qualified success” because the incarceration rate of Indigenous youth has not decreased, and there have been unintended adverse impacts on youth from racialized groups. This report explores the outcomes of this legislation, reviews “what works” from the literature, and provides recommendations and evidence-based guidelines and principles for practitioners and program developers to support positive outcomes for youth involved with the law.