Quality Task Force

Participants at the 2008 Governor’s Afterschool Summit expressed support to explore how a statewide systems approach could strengthen out-of-school time youth program quality. Any such quality initiative requires that business and foundations, along with program providers and professional development educators, build a consensus on strategies to support and grow quality in the programs and workforce core to Minnesota’s world of learning opportunities for children and youth. Because YCC is partnering with the Center for Youth Development at the University of Minnesota Extension to develop the information that policy-makers, funders and youth development leaders need on the topic of quality, it is time for robust conversation with regard to the language, concepts, ideas and materials being developed by the Center. In order to gather input and advice to move systems change work on quality forward, a series of three retreats will be held between December 2008 and March 2009 to create a focus, framework and agenda for a statewide initiative on quality youth work practice. Retreat conversations will be organized around research and new models that incorporate features of quality settings, employ models of progressive youth engagement, and stimulate development of practitioner expertise for the advancement of program quality. Anticipated outcomes/products include (a) a white paper with issues and current research summarized (b) setting a practical goal such as “In 5 years, 5 major funders will have 75% of their funds dedicated to quality programs” and (c) clear, practical recommendations to advance system support for quality.

The planning group, chaired by Carol Thomas and Joyce Walker, includes Jenny Wright, Kathy Lentz, Tom Miller, Sheila Oehrlein, and Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn. Curt Petersen has been hired to facilitate the retreats.

Forty invitees representing funders, youth programs and professional development providers plus 7-10 staff and planning committee members will meet for a daylong retreat on December 11 and again in January and March 2009. The goal is robust dialogue and debate. The deliverables include:

• A review of materials to frame the issue of quality around program features, youth engagement and practitioner expertise;
• A written consensus paper defining quality for Minnesota from a systems perspective;
• Recommendations to advance quality youth work practice statewide, and
• Commitments from systems and individuals to move the quality work ahead.
  

Task Force Representatives

Quality Task Force White Paper
Once We Know It, We Can Grow It: A Framework for Quality Nonformal learning Opportunities and Youth Work Practice

Action Steps