Childcare

Afterschool Matters
A National Research, Writing and Action Initiative

The primary objective of this project is to manage the continuation of the well established Afterschool Matters Initiative, which includes several publications and a Research Grantee program, in addition to planning for the national expansion of a related action/research writing initiative.


Afterschool Program Assessment System (APAS)
Assessing Quality Afterschool Programs

APAS is an assessment system that helps programs link quality and youth outcomes together in a comprehensive and integrated fashion. It was developed to help address the accountability challenge that faces afterschool programs.


Boston After-School Experiences Study (BASES)
Experiences in Boston After-School Programs

This study was created to better understand how children spend their after-school time, and how it may be best used to improve growth and learning. The study was stratified by ethnicity and took into account gender and social class.


Boston Public Schools Early Childhood Studies

The Work, Families & Children team has conducted a series of studies for the Boston Public Schools (BPS), including the BPS K1 and K2 Programs Needs Assessment, and a 2007-08 follow-up study.


Boston Ready
Universal Access to Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators

Using a randomized control design, Michelle Porche will conduct an evaluation of the Boston Ready professional development intervention to test its effectiveness.


Bringing Yourself to Work: Caregiving in After-School Environments
Caregiving in After-School Environments

Researchers of this project found that adults who have an awareness of their own relational needs and capacities have the potential to be more effective caregivers and role models in childcare setting, resulting in better outcomes for both the adults and children.


Building a Skilled and Stable Workforce for After School Programs
Building Afterschool Programs: Workforce

Researchers gathered economists, policy-makers, and funders to develop several recommendations for building a skilled and stable workforce for After School Programs.


Building an Outcomes Evaluation System Phase III
Developing Youth and Family Surveys

During this phase of work, NIOST will design and develop two additional measurement tools—a youth survey (SAYO-Y) and a family survey (SAYO-F). These two tools will be used by Massachusetts Department of Education grantees to better understand youth needs, their program experiences and help pinpoint areas where youth may benefit from additional support.


Child Care Voucher Project

WCW researchers participated in a study, led by Dr. Valora Washington and under the auspices of the Bessie Tartt Wilson Children’s Foundation, to evaluate the child care voucher system in Massachusetts.


CityWorks: Building Strong Citywide Afterschool Initiatives
Building Strong Afterschool Initiatives: Policy Planning

This project sought to improve the availability and preservation of out-of-school time programming and to disseminate information on recruiting, training, development, and finance.


Cross-Cities Network
Leaders of After-School Initiatives

This project connected high-level leaders from different cities and states to educate them on the dynamic landscape of after-school programs. in hopes of directing the influence, funding, and high expectations of these leaders towards a "critical mass" of associated initiatives across the country.


Family Income, Infant Child Care, and Child Development Study
Child Care Centers' Influence on Infant Development

This study followed a random sample of hundreds of children and 100 child care centers in order to examine links between family income, the quality and cost of child-care, and infant language and social development.


Health and Safety in Massachusetts Early Care and Education Programs

This project prepared a report is to describe the prevalent health practices and concerns in early care and education programs in Massachusetts, as part of a larger project of the Schott Fellowship in Early Care and Education.


Influence of Early Care and Education on Children's Outcomes and Family Functioning: ...
An Ecological Model: ECE, Children's Outcomes and Family Functioning

This study examines the varying quality of child care in Massachusetts and across the nation, and its effect on children's performance and family functioning.


Learning Circles
Girl Scouts Mentoring

This was an evaluation project of Learning Circles, a group mentoring program designed to provide opportunities for girls and adult mentors to meet regularly to discuss issues relevant to their lives. The results showed that girls enjoyed the opportunity for discussing issues relevant to their lives with women who were attentive.


Maine Cost and Quality Study
Cost and Quality of Child Care in Maine

This study sought to examine full-day, year round child care for preschool-age children in Maine to better illuminate links between the quality and the costs of early child care in Maine.


Massachusetts Afterschool Research Study (MARS)
Researching Quality Afterschool Programming: Massachusetts

This project sought to identify the most successful elements of afterschool programs in Massachusetts; including staff, policy making, funding, and program/activity participation.


Massachusetts Capacity Study

The Capacity Study describes the current early education and care (EEC) workforce in Massachusetts and evaluates the capacity of the State’s higher education system to meet the increased demand for a qualified workforce in early education and care.

Massachusetts Cost and Quality Study
Cost and Quality of Child Care in Massachusetts

The goal of the Massachusetts Cost and Quality Study was to examine full-day, year-round, community-based center care for preschool-age children (2.9 years to 5 years) and for infants and toddlers, pre-k classrooms in the public schools and family child care programs.


Massachusetts Early Care and Education and School Readiness Study
Early Care and Education and School Readiness: Massachusetts

Researchers focus on aspects of school readiness, including social and language development, along with other data such as hours in care, so as to better understand the ways in which a child's growth is influenced by situational factors. 


Massachusetts Early Care and Education Studies
Assessment of Early Care and Education in Massachusetts

This group of inter-related research projects seeks to understand the state of early care and education in Massachusetts and make recommendations for quality outcomes.


Met Life Discovering Community Initiative: An Evaluation Project
Creating Communities in After-School Settings

This was an evaluation of a national project that fosters more positive attitudes and stronger affiliations among middle school teachers, students, and parents within school communities.


National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST)
NIOST

This long-term program has brought national attention to the importance of children's out-of-school time using research, training and advocacy to strengthen children's emotional, physical, and social development.


New York City Urban Debate League: Investigating Youth's Experiences...
NYC Debate Teams in Afterschool Programs

This study examined the ways in which youth participate in the League: how do they experience the democratic ideals of a debate program? How do they come to consider and participate in democracy?


Next Generation Youth Work Coalition
Maintaining the Momentum

The National Institute on Out-of-School Time will partner with The Forum for Youth Investment as champions for action with the Career Pathway's sites in San Diego and Long Beach, California. This will include leading research aspects of the project as well as working to anticipate the site's needs for information, support and tools in a variety of areas.


NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development
Early Environments and the Development of Children

This study, funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, seeks to determine the relationship between children's early experiences and their developmental outcomes.

 


Out of Harm's Way

The Primary goal of the Out of Harm's Way (OHW) Initiative is to address the escalating violence in a subset of middle schools in the Boston Public Schools by offering comprehensive services and care, and increasing the participation of students in after school programming. Wellesley Centers for Women and the National Institute on Out-of-School Time would perform as the project evaluator.


Outcomes Evaluation of FasTracKids

The FasTracKids Research Study is a 19-month international study aimed at examining the link between participation in FasTracKids enrichment programs and child outcomes (children 4 and 5 years old). FasTracKids Enrichment Centers offer a variety of classes and activities designed to promote early learning, develop creative thinking and problem solving, build verbal communication, promote leadership and personal growth, and encourage a lifelong love of learning.


Physical Activity over Time: Health Outcomes of Elementary School Children
Long-term health benefits of physical activity

The is a secondary analysis of data collected over the long-term to determine how physical activity benefits the overall health and well-being of children over time. This study will focus on the NICHD’s Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development data.

Quality Inventory for a 21st Century Plan for Boston's Youngest Children

This project provides a comprehensive picture of the quality of Boston's Early Care and Education programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, in both centers and family child care homes.


SCOPE: Evaluation project
After-School Program at Ecotarium, Massachusetts

This three-year evaluation project was designed to measure the outcome of SCOPE, an inquiry-based science enrichment program for upper-elementary and middle-school aged girls.


Youth Worker Career Pathways Project
Guiding States, Localities and Organizations toward a Framework for Policy and Practice

The Career Pathways Project will lead to a set of guidelines promoting success and strengthening the work force for afterschool providers towards stability preparation, support and commitment to the well-being and empowerment of youth.