Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents: Exploratory Phase
What we're doing
Research shows that high-quality out-of-school-time programs can bolster young people’s intellectual, social, emotional, and physical well-being.
Studies have also shown that "cross-sector partnerships" can develop and carry out such programs. These partnerships bring together public and private organizations working in areas ranging from education to youth development to community health services.
This exploratory effort supported 30 such partnerships nationwide in a variety of projects to meet the needs of teenagers who face significant barriers in life. In one endeavor, for example, an advocacy group for at-risk young people united with the mayor's office, a local college, and others to turn vacant storefronts into education and career centers for youth.
What we learned
In this exploratory phase, a research team from the American Institutes for Research (AIR) followed and documented the work of the partnerships. The study and the work in communities led to Wallace's full Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents initiative.
