YLI//Research

research // services

research and evaluation

YLI’s Research and Evaluation services help communities ensure that policy and environmental prevention efforts address relevant and pressing community needs that are based on data. We work with a variety of clients to design and implement program evaluations or community assessments, and we also track the most up-to-date research to identify the lessons that should lead to changes in policies or programs.

YLI develops customized tools and frameworks that can be implemented in a wide range of communities and settings whether urban, suburban, or rural.

Tools and resources include:

Access Survey for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
Benchmarks
Environmental Prevention Assessment
Evaluation Planning
Merchant Scorecards
Sampling Strategies
Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes Pre/Post Surveys
Tool Development to track stages and outcomes
Youth Development Survey

YOUTH-LED ACTION RESEARCH

YLI has deep expertise in linking youth development practices to the latest evaluation strategies and field research. YLI’s Youth-Led Action Research Training enhances the effectiveness of youth participation by providing training and support for young people to partner with adults to carry out community action research and program evaluation projects.

YLI supports teams of young people in variety of ways, including:

Designing evaluation and research plans
Collecting and analyzing data
Developing action plans to address their findings
Creating forums for youth to deliver these recommendations to decision-makers.

Young people are often not asked to participate in the decision-making that directly impacts their lives and their communities. Youth Action Research and Evaluation provides a mechanism through which young people can shape and influence the decision-making that affects their lives and communities. It enables them to make data-driven recommendations for change in their programs and communities.

Download Research & Evaluation Training Services Fact Sheet

Learn more about YLI's support for youth-led research and evaluation projects.

Evaluation and Action Research Training: Five-Step Model

Step #1: Assessment of Readiness
YLI staff meets with your program staff, management and youth participants to gauge the level of readiness for a project and discuss project goals and training needs. This assessment looks at staff capacity to facilitate a project, available program and organizational resources, and staff readiness to partner with young people.

Step #2: Design of Training and Technical Assistance Plan
YLI designs a training and technical assistance plan for the project. This plan describes overall project goals, training and technical assistance objectives, and a clear timeframe for the project.

Step #3: Training and Preparation for Youth and Adults
YLI delivers training to address the needs identified in Step 1. Training is provided to youth and adults before the project starts, with follow-up training taking place after the evaluation or action research is underway.

Step #4: Project Implementation and Follow-Up Action
YLI works with participating youth and adults to plan and carry out the project. The project may include a variety of information-gathering techniques — surveys, interviews, focus groups, town hall meetings, video journals and others. After reviewing and interpreting the information, the project team puts the findings into action by preparing — and advocating for — recommendations to key stakeholders, including program staff, organizational management, local policymakers, and young people, parents/guardians and other community members.

Step #5: Project Review
YLI staff and the project team review and reflect on the project. What worked well? What challenges did the group face? How can the process be improved?