investing in a generation: strategies for applying research to youth issues karen bogenschneider...
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Investing in a Generation:Strategies for Applying Research to Youth Issues
Karen BogenschneiderProfessor, Human Development & Family Studies
Family Policy SpecialistUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
University Extension
What I’ll Cover Today
The usefulness of the ecological theory of human development as a framework for developing technologies for translating research into action.
Three strategies for applying research to youth issues using the ecological framework.
The evaluation strategies that we have used to demonstrate the preliminary effectiveness of these strategies.
An Ecological Theory of Human Development: Influences on Youth Development
Youth
Family
Community School
Peer Workplace
Public/PrivatePolicies
Media
Socio-Economic Status
Bonding toSocial Institutions
An Ecological Theory of Human Development: Influences on Youth Development
Youth
Family
Community School
Peer Workplace
Public/PrivatePolicies
Media
Socio-Economic Status
Bonding toSocial Institutions
“We are well past the time when it is possible to argue that good research will, because it is good, influence the policy process.”
Ray Rist, 1994, p. 546U.S. General Accounting Office
The Mission of the Family Impact Seminar
1) To connect research and state policy
2) To promote a family perspective in policymaking
Why isn’t good research more directly utilized by policymakers?
What Policymakers Attend?
Since 1993 1,214 participants have attended 1 of 17 seminars including
72 different state legislators
107 legislative offices
276 state agency personnel
66 University/Extension faculty
26 representatives of legislative support bureau personnel
13 staff from the Governor’s Office
Early Childhood Care and EducationRetrospective Pre and Post Test
Low Some Good Very Good
How Participants Rated Their Understanding of:
How the quality of child care affects children’s development (p = <.001)
How child care programs differ across states( p = <.001)
How parents can be involved in child care programs (p = <.001)
Based on 60 participants with a response rate of 80%
Why the private marketplace does not work as well for child care as for other industries ( p = <.001)
How Do State Legislators Use the Information?
63% to evaluate pending legislation63% to share with colleagues63% to identify references for further reading50% to incorporate into speeches50% to respond to constituent questions13% to draft legislation
In interviews 6 to 8 weeks after the early childhood care and education seminar, the information was used by:
Do Seminars Influence Policy Decisions?
State legislators specifically said that they used information from the prescription drug seminar to
Draft new legislation
Help critique and modify legislation
Sort out poor proposals
Discuss the issue with advocacy groups
Do Seminars Influence Policy Decisions?
Several features of prescription drug programs that were discussed at the seminar were incorporated into Wisconsin’s Senior Care law:
Prior authorizationGeneric substitutesVariable copayments and a $500 deductibleDiscounted rates for pharmacistsRebates
Do Seminars Change Attitudes About the Value of Research and the Importance of Families?
Because of the Family Impact Seminars, state legislators report being more likely to
Consider how new legislation that I am developing might affect families 86%
Consider how pending legislation affects families 71%
See the practical value of research 71%
The Seminars Change State Legislators’ Attitudes
“I wasn’t sure that the government had a role in parenting, but now I am sure we can no longer stick our head in the sand.”
State Legislator
What We’ve Learned AboutConnecting Research and Policymaking
1) Provide objective, high-quality, research- and practice-based information.
The Value of Research in Policymaking Circles
“…the ability to present and prepare unbiased research based on objective analysis and without political taint is truly refreshing.”
State Legislator
What We’ve Learned AboutConnecting Research and Policymaking
1) Provide objective, high-quality, research- and practice-based information.
2) Bring a family perspective to policymaking.
3) Be reactive rather than proactive.
4) Provide information in the format policymakers prefer.
What Do Policymakers SayAbout the Seminars?
“...the information and ability for follow-up discussion at the round table portion of the seminar is not available to my knowledge in any other setting”
State Legislator
Youth
Family
Community School
Peer Workplace
Public/PrivatePolicies
Media
Socio-Economic Status
Bonding toSocial Institutions
An Ecological Theory of Human Development: Influences on Youth Development
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
Wisconsin Youth Futures:The Purpose
Youth Futures brings together coalitions of parents, educators, community leaders, and youth to develop comprehensive plans to prevent youth problems.
Wisconsin Youth Futures Sites
Youth Futures Coalition Members
School Principals
The Circuit Court Judge
A Physician
Law Enforcement Officials
President of the Parent/Teacher's Organization
Religious Leaders
Business Leaders
Representatives of Community Service Clubs
Parents
Young People
Youth Futures Process
1. Prioritize problems facing local youth2. Learn about:
*The latest research on adolescent development*Risk factors and protective factors*Effective prevention programs
3. Assess existing community resources for youth4. Identify resources and supports most needed in
the community5. Develop action plan6. County Extension faculty work with local
communities to implement the plan
Youth Futures Activities
Developed Meaningful Youth Roles
Student Government CouncilsTaught “Through With Chew” tobacco prevention curriculumFor teen center, developed the rules of conduct, interviewed center director candidates, and developed bookkeeping system
Youth Futures Activities
Organized Communities Events and Organizations
Organized a Martin Luther King Day to celebrate African American culture and contributionsEstablished a parent-teacher association in the schoolFormed a parent network
Youth Futures Activities
Instituted Policy Changes
Tightened penalties for underage drinking and selling alcohol to minorsAs an alternative to jail, provided community service and life skills training
Youth Futures Impacts
Effectiveness - Reduced known risks and bolstered proven safeguards
Generativity - In first 5 years, generated over $1,003,000 of cash or inkind services at the local level
Empowerment - Between 1990 and 1996, volunteers in the first 20 sites donated over 77,000 hours of time or approximately 9,625 eight-hour work days
Institutionalization - County and state Extension faculty redirected almost 75,000 hours or about 9,375 eight-hour work days
Youth Futures Impacts
Sustainability - 9 of the first 15 sites incorporated
Adaptability - Model used in small and medium-sized White communities and also in African American, Hmong, and Latino inner-city neighborhoods in Milwaukee.
Leadership - Received a state award for “outstanding community service and prevention leadership” from Wisconsin Positive Youth Development and the Wisconsin Prevention Network.
Youth Futures Guiding Principles
1. Identify the Real Issues or Problems Facing Local Youth and Families
What percent of mothers of 14 to 18 year-olds (who reported smoking at least 1 to 3 times a month) said that it was likely their teen smoked cigarettes?
A) 25%
B) 33%
C) 45%
D) 62%
Cast Your Vote!
Cast Your Vote!
What percent of parents agreed or strongly agreed that birth control should be taught in school?
A) 25%
B) 47%
C) 65%
D) 84%
Youth Futures Guiding Principles
1. Identify the Real Issues or Problems Facing Local Youth and Families
2. Tailor the Prevention Plan to the Community, Reducing Risks that Exist Locally and Building Resources that Do Not Exist
Youth
Family
Community School
Peer Workplace
Public/PrivatePolicies
Media
Socio-Economic Status
Bonding toSocial Institutions
An Ecological Theory of Human Development: Influences on Youth Development
Newsletters Included Advice on Parenting Practices Fundamental to Competent Parenting of Adolescents
Monitoring
Responsiveness
Parent/teen discussions
Parental understanding of the developmental changes of adolescence
Parental awareness of teen alcohol use, and
Parental values regarding teen alcohol use
Sample
726 Primarily White mothers and fathers of 14 to 18 year-olds
51% Response Rate
57% were mothers, 35% fathers, and 8% other guardians
20% had a high school education or less, and 42% had a college degree or more
Newsletter Effectiveness in Promoting Competent Parenting
Parental Monitoring
Parental Responsiveness
Parent/Teen Discussion
Parental Understanding of Developmental Changes
Parental Awareness of Teen Alcohol Use
Parental Values Regarding Teen Alcohol Use
Treatment Versus
Control Group
*
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
*p <.05 **p <.01
Newsletter Effectiveness in Promoting Competent Parenting
Parental Monitoring
Parental Responsiveness
Parent/Teen Discussion
Parental Understanding of Developmental Changes
Parental Awareness of Teen Alcohol Use
Parental Values Regarding Teen Alcohol Use
Treatment Versus
Control Group
ReadersVersus
Control Group
*
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
*p <.05 **p <.01
**
**
*
NS
NS
NS
Does Newsletter ReadershipPromote Parent/Teen DiscussionsAmong Families Facing No Risks or Multiple Risks?
t = 1.91, p = .058
0
5
10
15
20
1 2
Read None
Read All
Num
ber
of
Dis
cuss
ions
Would All Newsletters Be This Effective?
We hypothesize that newsletter effectiveness depends upon several characteristics:
1. Newsletters may be most effective when they reach parents during sensitive periods.
2. The authors of the newsletters need a clearly defined reader.
3. The newsletters are well-written.
Why has our ability to generate high quality research outpaced our ability to disseminate this research into policy and practice?
Knowing is not enoughWe must apply.Willing is not enoughWe must do.
GoethePresentation designed by Meg Wall-Wild