Project

Improving Programs, Policies, and Services to Promote Healthy Development in Middle Childhood in Afterschool Settings

about the project

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Status

Client

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Afterschool settings provide critical opportunities for supporting child development.

This project gathered knowledge on programs that promote healthy social-emotional, behavioral, and physical health and development of children aged 6-12 in afterschool settings—particularly children from low-income families.

Our approach started with the existing knowledge base on middle childhood and afterschool programs and incorporated implementation science and advances in evidence building. A team prepared a comprehensive literature review and case studies informed by onsite interviews, surveys, and observations.

The findings highlight promising and evidence-based afterschool programs and implications for efficiency and quality. They were disseminated to support broad implementation of the programs.

Staff

  • Todd Bartko, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

    Todd Bartko has more than 30 years of experience in social science research and program administration. He brings to JBA his expertise in applied social science...

  • Mariel Sparr, Ph.D., M.A. Director

    Mariel Sparr has more than 15 years of experience in applied research and evaluation in the areas of implementation quality, early childhood education...

  • Jill Filene Jill Filene, M.P.H. Executive Vice President of Research and Evaluation

    Jill Filene has more than 25 years of experience in applied research, program evaluation, and technical assistance. Her areas of expertise include home...

  • Colleen Morrison, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

    Colleen Morrison has more than 10 years of experience in program evaluation and applied developmental research. Her areas of expertise include early...

  • Patrice Cachat, M.S.W. Research Associate

Partner

Stacy Frazier, Ph.D., Florida International University

Resources

about the project

Topics

Capabilities

Status

Client

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services