New Depths: Furthering Innovative Research Evaluation for an Evidence-Based Teen Program

Abstract

The YMCA of Greater Louisville partnered with Indiana University Southeast’s Applied Research and Education Center (AREC) to develop and evaluate an innovative, evidence-based youth program. At AREC, ethnographic study conducted by a near-peer undergraduate observer and hiring a youth evaluation advisor are how we continue to use participatory, utilization-focused and action research to contextualize and better feedback for the evaluation research findings. Data collected from these grants will serve research and evaluation publications, help secure new funding, and promote sustainability of these programs through continued YMCA implementation and dissemination of the models to other youth-serving organizations.